tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47030552907843580342018-02-14T05:18:54.727-05:00Diary of a Happy LibrarianTricia Pfeilnoreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-35534780607307950652018-01-08T17:17:00.001-05:002018-01-08T17:39:01.109-05:00It's Monday What Are You Reading #IMWAYR 1/8/2018All of my books today are not on my Must Read in 2018 list! I keep telling myself I have a full year to get to the list so I'm starting with some I've been meaning to read for a while.<br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2B7mM-XSgL._SX446_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="179" /><br /><br /><b>Nerdy Birdy Tweets</b> in a newer book by one of my favorite authors Aaron Reynolds. I read this book to my 5th grade students and it was a hit!! Birdy and Vulture discover a new social media app called "Tweetster" and Birdy can't stop posting. He posts pics of Vulture without her permission and&nbsp; spends his days staring at a screen obsessed with "likes" and comments instead of playing with his friend. Vulture finally has enough and confronts Birdy about his new social media habits.<br /><br />This is a very funny and timely book about the effects of too much screen time and the absurdity of ignoring live people in favor of a device. I often feel like my students and my own children are slightly sick of hearing lectures from me about screen time and digital citizenship. This book is a great way to open the conversation and let them draw their own conclusions about Birdy's actions. I highly recommend this for ALL ages!!<br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img 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eV04YsWMZDx5k5AiurglLF5AJH/FnY+X/FXSGw/fxIjI/YsOJptGmIFvkNkbhSg3RKH7Ed+Fvn04REm1F2iZd9oHZAeNy2hrtZoGspSZkx34feGV2jX8h1D8RIHWOSF0qGOxRKEC0Is1pu/fHNn1yG2FPqoRJp7yiPgG+xurZOFG/L0bPZ/5ufXGp3LEmECIQg8sAgFe2BaPLnaUU/B7hk4bzHUJZ/Mrt7irEn5jKPZPsO+k2UBQdL3fik3uoYa5/mZTEVCkCnuMYofMXJ2NZqLcNPzumn3kR4JTScT5pAyy1mP2xI4ApDSEgw1i+OAq6CAXQYMyqpdzEawmG4lzsrtTKyTgeNCIJnFv+BflKmB2L7fZtEeFJ1Z7E/87AXk15QREE7iDikx2pquQs5e+9n6HgBjT98wTtDla8rTPSjofeJO2scJC3tPqb3URhbXZr7QX5GubJxZpph3CZgYnjVQslOd+Cq5pnL0u1eJQBW9POtVJAZasqCcT6aCcdbXOSKRI52a+IFC2/aOj+X85niYEfpl5DchllyCRkCeKD3styGfsPmCSLP4FiV5dI9trEHrpmY4g1CNIe56aCib5sJbqo7/hN7KxE3eZc99qkMcdZiBjxce01bVfGT1XTTqKclN+KvE1h/SxGOtxyzN2AqYErOlX475sRDJPGvHTPZRCXsvYpZA2BnCHqm1h0YpJZdE/NIBdXQrXfixNU0pi9L5fV+YO9XqiK8BQL8Hsr3CtM3hoZjtsuXqO57rK14vgS3qZjE8SftNbrqqYadRAEVOgvOd5155TixOK1FV1kF0sB+i7JxbFRrnVBBOZihk4i6wb4bl4Xg98RV59PPUTWbkFCLW02zxD18VB2DETocTiCW45g5S7uyjPqlejUHIKSRwAlhjkzIDKKpH1QtT1JHlyWx/Q137M04JmPoWm+MzNvsdNXdxjmWcY5yP2+TqhW/v1qA0w3g7C2srKZuJbbT0CoZw4gsNSGzVxWZ+s4JfQP+dfPVWHq5NLQWX3EGf0aIAkacsbPkEfFT7iTRUDkWF+ecUEy10jM+fKnXBOFFx0wT+rglgEomlIzydKW8W6dzmndvYuvcYCt2NuAFY0HNqjLHhGt3nUrj1Xpb9eaomFCflxZ933nfRDPw0b2ZbkLaF3jCLZbdQFz5uma+tUASrJbEfY0fBo1q2bubxl9vFC1Osto4AnjwOrZkgwwpzFY04thycXqLPi/4bs7u5e4S6l64rEa/Q3teJCgpbHQZb5Y+DkQHGDF9ZQFj0WwgjEqXFDjmo5UMRqF8/OTin+Xsjxr8+wuhkwvNzAMGnl0MaV9SNiM/ipHWmt2slMHeQtXExFwE1XT3je43DZLWMNpwJJk2t8ZmkwNHfaROyk72+iD0nYDoKYJonRmqgtac27Hw36rog9EpUkCiNhknySjbEsMM6bZb04W5EPB35Zk2V+QgTyDjILLA2+BcTX5WIP2V2H53NRGyrGLxm2K2e6MJyt2GriqQGaeHnkupUxImhSSsa1ojgdV9eL2Do9QXF//S2U7pLdVGJT6IME8qtK7i5W9jpXsWYKroqAuU+BSpUzfd4obniNM6Gtid9XOswCyDKZoYLKxvxU5ICdnUfsGM0/TvwALq4T1zdssGu9Q/oYEYe/OV21/p3OA738VuxdPL+ZzZBLx7z2sxyxYvchikS1OlR/7mSrhuoyNtBExS0Kq0a2U6FkqqCC+xhJxLbo6h5Hd18NbT67LV+BMW/Wb6VFAStQTUOI743x/9cmkTPGWJ3LmI1Rt7xwqhVVNAPaKxxRb2b9nNiuj0SvXLUp+8tykr+ao+MxwfeL+zNqVtHMR764FvLyV+SX1MBdOr+/XQKFafQlm2r85yPU51MMs3N2zEpDXxQXvhSrCmPvtJM0f7GK/y/bqoLkHieoDUzEzY7hSophcd4zLEbZSEueMSi++KWbSWfRRCp/708muDANU5wdZ5yTHwMCSY0kr+iEPcQP8EN8krzMB+/c7zmRUym5p3WyAHf3hRZfDPeyNxqx184Q+jAlVu91Naz+VX3SFnZUMUOWnK2CNBSS5KyvoBFnDTpJyXxsFni4pNG57lJjAxey1JY6OyTA28i5iH6vtUsNrxrIluMskj5HOlIk7KGLbzmOTkdh+JiYdoZflWpiiJp43OcICm+tCtRPZmwrlg6s8LOCIIZAkCl0U956oAv+7W6AEz/xqLKtAMg7Q5slHJQ7gakubFoorsn5uO005ro06ntgRK0VXrxfT+Sa13rJt5gHK3OY3vLwWMOKZkmxbCaD9ZzHLM2MGOdjVeRxkvUcPFIWGd2WaasmIeC44nCbqyb8+DcpqltWe/gu1fHiIQGLkwxIZqVISlhkZOEgyCHbrnrJEPwPmW+HGhJdGeezyxKsWKjq8rN1xqzzFgDYluWhDQbnpCmBBkt98CmrrKjogNnTLsdoGMAgHjGvds033SVUDskGlwztXQlDo9fLIHa6/UopDtuix59Z0BqHsAhu/drPXuvBAkpDASr0vinnOi/N3++3PC6svo6jcNN+GhotZ8Xtw/fVlhPBg9IM9iyihyvwl4qR16XBS9CVXN4RXQuZmYzIeueNJVaVCXx6BYecuSiTiPgtiGTI7btVtdDA7OU0PpaLaH+c5XH8bZKoLutRT0ksdkP6WhhZzp8doThWfgY8XHetfXGpdZg62qHnRsEImEefeZarI5WpaM0abwKQ2z1XiNtFhhoMJMyUyKol4j76eE+u679x99ZBldykinwRQAYH1qJIul7Xonhixj9Yo7s/JiEVc6SS/Lp1eAUFdzI3iad3sHXGptsrTtkuxESc5Wj1k9tJNhc+1z3QMTs8+mZrNg/PgdHEVR+GsiSD26br8S+vceP1kVgJaXm2PoiZ7wFFtLgX6uFAiM2BudIm2lsTAA8Ao/poEdR27BP4/Q9qXj0mBHmvxfbq2hdsVgoU8MpffqdqunsHw2wQwD7+78zFYdSJ8P96hO5kyHmZbE9plU0V/kLEkkVTStq/Dcbi8b6QHix2guzbprVtDR+pBXpjzN2TJMHySYOi1M7ZrFAclarACqClHZky3MhNf00neAMC8SaAYbiALKJDu0bNgiCF8d4NUY+7Xk2+mOYNniToXbJmuNOy8zW/wn6QuY+h2S2dODHHYxGNjRPDGUedZJBwSeZ3ljGFEL2xJEinkeuJbcgEcDBWY8A9T8SkrTLrYwBWop5wY7vtpJrN5ztCER1QsGN0SGAKtYnsywpsELK2eu29uXdDSioxF7xxyk8VMw2rlb6XiwxlGpw1DH3GRN20P5jeiSKwUOkRFQx4anfOLRLF3a5bOZZKhGyDF6ZX/uUVJFK7DqyHdtzys5gcYm0ecCXu1VVWtpB2O2IClBYdq4sO5parZ1EhAEZ5Xfu15x9NwNdPWT4DDIcM1r54W0HYtKp0nd4Nf+iXWWcgLKx8EnP7xssaxYgyVmoQQpiysAeYU9B7BvgmuE/jXkMK35PTjotWRU29m0Eg7EXmZI2hsmvgF8sAtTK/QgWnJhp6tr+IHEoA9EV2PY0Cp34VVU0jj1dnAVHvp3JEUfYtEMGpE4KBTzLD5Qcc38WV3p6aFnQh667SiTD0stVWCcAHAK52fcVw9J3WtBrhjY0wI6wcy3fhyNe1hVAgo0fbxZ15AMzN1MOUD9nkJGmSmF9vmjK6P7UJpGGOS7eIRqC4SN59Ww6g4SNGSLY4TXUe0yB9iGrkQwReHLvXal2NDAIlx3G2Gt/BWOn/bt3ZjrgAbv7HzqyzJ7S90oDpIkPRyF+tzQeDRUwKnIhZjZ37DVXRN1k/0WKSFMa4uO0i5YTN7TSKOtJj1KM1t586ppHCZtu2eqzk8llDfmhQcMT1fuuBJec5Ev3yOxZaPqYgr+rYl3n29aTCnqm7qySUTbD9rNuAbkKzIP2YnUY/0Uo18HdZYtIcs6vz20Lc3Y0ZhCGm82Lp/erwY57T5vx8JxYO9z7/e6pLVdQ5U+bKABF13MVIwatkw/fvSk2uvCk2OesH1Q6feHJ9iInOuYS893CY6bKPn7lc49E/Hc0cyUTx60senjOde58a3DX0VD5KxmG7d4Om00mlLhmNvm6BAmLEcRyOEjceVcI2vGTpZsFe/fCyaVLEU5/rHhzg/MZpNlAOKDwCkckLol8M30MeWhqYFe+vaBp5V+jTpCdASA2vw9sx5VfS6fQP2DWMBzjnhaPCYBYyfKwm4F2ymBqDnj0+HEGtglQDxEMlAwWutaJRxVHqBpBojHe/RUEIHbfl0VUIVwOG3cLZshnqsHkK2/4DJYijUTZQw75mrq/PnIoaA+KKGqJBHKRlZj8MIECwBSUN5qSoTZ7+nxYmZm7LIZxn5KYOLVJ2FwcpCCGMZlyA6tgwlfjomcmkivZ80+cV2tNRpaESxaVsr01iZ0I7SN1k9p/Nhrqs83HJtRFoxmJwbwVkfY/VHDV24gk7iqaxXEXRhAnAJrEIiyvSzrZBTBISCeyQv6pDU+2Mxy+RK6eUNkduvPDRAxhfKsCy7F3jpKYMCQ32EC9H77O2Vk3KcKVoKKS23FMGqEAkytBd5rrSnQ5n2wshc7MioK9INhLg3LVyLb5fskB4maNZlLO1s4x26BVQTsb2EiGKTYAq6Ix3yNoHQ4f3ypoI9qr2k2XJxigTZkeutBcgGXg0RWmEyRJAqwhB75RIiyn3SCqolXR/Q2lJF8DTsIguaSlA9c+YDGBG3n2ziETxCY5x3vhx1A38jF+d4Eai+9UU8CrbQOorrgh8rRmIIa3sqJ+1gDgLOK2i29U/Qva3WjMv/gJy8Yvzdw3KrSnymChX47XNPXVqircRBBhtCsBHIybjQCA70UPg+npLKgIzVD2+Yro4ukJNHsaGpZyWLw1HAg37cDnL+Af2CUeYZxX8Oz7STt250pwlplV7JQtMlcO7uSl18HkbECCFrKLsQYOJwwatu5KxdQKbtk4Sc7SO84XxXYGIvTbAbW/8x83aGFYV3JR6N6ri6CZOeZbPMf9iiZ0NFv2WkTVbovfHKQaF4eiyo3cgIsEObZVJ1ee9eMbjga+dqeZ8Qjs8WaL0xENVdq67G0pmUhSvd4gV2rsiQmJ8CsK69oNZvtlzVh66QIdiD6f0MGWFitd1lfF+sp3g788TP+HhVoe64CW3FDIJlsIUrTLRiTc5mCsIq8iQP4xxbEZzW3YlOuTdMdr7vZ37kx21jIxKJGuFL9IY9KyVnG2l3xbeZgbZNtvh6Wm1gHm3naHY+AO5QxOTUTlLYvp8bRww2kKL4g6StkOs8bt+IRdm54z1TA85wT2j+yZwgUf3hDx1erNo+CXZ/AcND2s40uRwPI8HQpeW/u+0cEjyLWrNQGYvo1Y6j6Y/3KyDNsbKUdmdqTLncVffWw1AvwFwsCeqDbG/ScVod/NfLVxFQgUwxIfTtJawINNO7C7hzdy9eOTymofjnN5fy0DIxVrXgoioXN/hY08RiLkdsSMjkYc9AuCNjThlyaixkqWjOHTslthX+gifK87rjNsvbGXKMlWt4lN0ythjor2BWmTwAfPBnDjBAuLkHKWrin4zN3cUCasPvGsUjKsvfSGm1GkTkgduDKdXlQpuPN23TTqNx9IWFF1eqb521L2Cpe+LgsTX2SHvul35gSi4WphHTXhTWzf1/Nk7eGx2EiTqEVAiyb0O4e1XjGdn9lhkcagfBM3MsaRYgHEPagy4T2jy8KIdMC5NVOe+e+pMnVaVIBRCru1iMxQVQGJ4OvcgbOlSVfbaKXHfCRiKl3Ukbxv+4Xc5Gv2oYEZ6AdQHpy4c49n4BZJglehSnr7FaCz6/zmvmzOs0IOPYe+VphVBzODe8nC7Jk/XFlGqX7ty0KMaS18R+0QZS9sbB+QQZaOSumXX7fQXfMcMCHdSnrN0zqYHQh2OigbFKAoeiws4TyxYF+3XHYJfP/F6FBowHQcgDH3ZVOL5XVBMx7DPlkwTO3XIWiBJvuyHkP8Nssdj+sa6njCgm4KafswdbIUrAswZq1S7mGbGlfR1p4u4eYf+LzxhMXUHg7/MZkdRnPKIFqEy1U68xbmmynZoB8hdecQ584XcIbyyjA6DAwTFGoRF7w9Q5WK+N5923rSyLrFB5Mh5BZ8pkF7VHGYyXmlE1tTncB6WJcKdU8G3MkQWzJd9hhaBlNlv1xh9kqoJCC0B6aLq9EjdTVpRbf3Oxonsl/jYmUeIWEQsscPeREinDtiDMmXfaX3kghO76XDzrHqYIFarh3nDsDjqpWKBb7eAi1/KGhuGQ5Iji6cBKBGQpdrCOVdpw61t0WBcETlg9gGAzOEABkA9CaIkupg2LRjQxO4csN5oovzf7trnK1FPo1mJU8EGfXDcqtjCDNhtI7Y4T7hXSHmNEVoiNsLWzHyeR/0r88lPtKou8RPUT2Ffe4rLHxlv+RLcVM/xPnHiTwWaqAx81KerokFDIkVWlteQ8XmsFYUQ8RIIbQwxQwCx8Ziy71zagWGW0LHewIxS1+oD2OmJ5Y8uOTizslSch1pyK1SLkH5k+cnx1dxVY+mEfDbPsYPYdOylIS9uJRr/FLuKztmhv9h1m0PNZF2eVdc9LAdpbyePlae/eS1hYUMHYzZP09ehXz23GtKnVoO4AIk1tIRWbcjqiw7D2Nfom5glDKFFgunD8u4nj2PbxUSEONN1ViDmq2s11nrMHzjbfkCRSBgPhRatrDh+z8Erl2cm0as7EyzBdjz75eMF4Z10z+67Ibx0AU2kr+inJigoECmhRvJ9RsharZJBFNgwjKycJN4hIzcZ9Aw9TzmfppGSIvOQIE4NFEsBISbmh/KLvlo8Fkx70wuOmVG99APrPZk1TPLXueu9KCSdOFIBxoSEl2gtb/AF6KvH1PjLO/c291M3fOth1VZQQndTPbskmehOF4zh8iiLSPi/8lG+ED+AFFrQAKinM3ty3OtFOXVqA8bsLjlC9tFUGETlHEmtoZCnqJftmaNbKMkj3ycJE4y3kXdBZnPPyp1gX406+OJe2RcPBhhR5+OlbVosLRXmHQn6kIdoBlKH3z8XzRGerBCW+kjlBisayQv1I05ymwkiBdbZXrKT3LEy/dcyBiB2sDiv6h0ZX0x1q44p4j09WjLmsTwJlyIpG/Y2wQJx9AFyPnl1B/Kn0SQFuTC4TZ/iLbHRYIY5bqVrNVdxBzkQBqWbtYQk0GbI7bM73onHXRf99cxjAgeyls6CiJI0jpELDPS7eTBEZwioSnrkzT+6bFAnL/lRVZgoOar4a1UxQ8B8TWS5xqTTcHpd2sJLT4nzuaCyS4xez+UHeXmy7I4CAD+BSy7wdpN4iOWKILGZAovV54tFyBzBJI0tPYzoHybJt/TosUlL6tnuwPReC8kmeg/Cwupcj4o0Cg1svS1V06aI8uc9FaeXPq2PkQZ2KZq+8oOfTwWBkRwwZJo8n1Di74igecqrrCtW1nfbAA3570Fjlq92InyupcuRAdZPwLRbTtG+rye8LX7niJDgrCYfQcd57h1aNpsl2rLh07L9O95QV2hICqqeyWMUO2UADKyWcwq64vu0wvqKnidwrtjDaSHLI4BIrzmJKPsPmrI5LQmXJFLmDFZsW15FuxGkhEaWIHdC3dDysKr42dTIo+WDof+1YK4tVt/UPOtDKN1oEiESLATzhbCk3vIfqnPVwPdHs5RhFJKd2iF0popteIkbC302qiyxrBPCfz3mjfvLyiKg83JmWkrGShlg3fz/eaeVNZJdRPnle625xtHuWJt38GVVZTRBqJqmElm7YjbQKVEMXfyarV8S1fXRbmfLQNB0S4Bgh13SAD1ld+jZLuZ09xAg8911cT5WnM64HqtqrCGQqwpFY6Der8DUiA4WpKBrSXOOwj+rZ78uV4+zcDJi00zOQXQQZzCXKNicSs7dkle+C8qG0A7tTIwT73y4kr16IZZq2cmCq+5hHwXnJdwzkhe6fjQ6W6uxtsMde8Dzcq1o3aef1SmjyYBU2EM/9TiyZYOo3l6xxEGhuTKrNht2uaNbhCK3Y8PXRKnYgfkl6raDEIx007gtY9xea8BL/rtHn84iEuYlDEK9KECRZhV4FXr0b7zDnAlwvXqq08LI6d7piNrZnuSrzBU6f8Nj9MaSzE/gLXDSafQMzHMBob3VQ/39KOBzjGjHDfF2ZNPSb+K5Vd0OMv13kUo7PMsDNK3kEPrltzhh6TnbGYW5Ntoy13ywlgtsk7ix177cDqm8kTlHJX5T8T2ZawbF6fMLrwF1jvQIRUVcx3q2z0RR6eri6dpMPkxK11rIW8FhJ+f7J5D2fG5NnEzaB95Q6zPUBHr1BZsbh1Mv/Y8Noctx4MMQyD/IUNIk9nYugxxYItdhJ+E1f0uGsdIOyWpzj1ee8hSU3rmHjyZtNqXtKKF0Tt+9rFeljs+NjnD96vYTYQPSm/8HAjhVoyBAnyphBLXdoNennMcY7EYI0LaHPU8Q2/0zHI5QgrLWjuiWj5eUbVHpLE9h5ErRGu3cfLiOnvR/inklap4nvKq2uXiyo06E6H+qP40X6o/jRfrb6IG2L6iZom5J4O8qKxVif/Pz8m3h+NFZRzqIbUyt9Led075xde9r3Qb/K7g2CeenXpn60Y2IyF56+Wmh2oealP7Plz/hU08aIba19XN1OP7vQCSvIZN4pqHiIjk2kPvdXBAEo5SAyT6o1nplW4i0ZucCzv6LpjzbC0XYbRinxfJTw3JWthD9RvXgcEpqboFEmny4m7aTAoS7RNl7aHY36EYVzgVdVFPHmV8lc9SWP1FP7Tfdg16DddJlaBIwRJudmWly2VV8pHWQf3TmpyYnwIkE8MUchhnen4VY8/XANI9AjAaM4mxMEOyvbWXup7QYGM/QyhNBEE+25FPKNzFlfD/ofdMX+/AIBt8KUlBXLyCIMjkCq2+UgbXxyJ4ZsNXvWWyg90M00rzomioLR2Fh24LgHcXqL/3twYs5shKYC9xWu9jJtg2+ddbjRAH6iQoHqqrqrbE87BeYiiDqG3v/kvhcmkn+zm9RROKmwziCTQtUIOhTOtbXjNZeSESqyq16q46Gh4FIbCJyBal4mavqz3hjmmp4wJMOr9t0nWCrKwTY7fJpJzEadMdMlHlUlPUGKS01Zae/nUykWfzkPXc3qa3ewSPIrypwN8Ax6lDdaPkmYBDeXvv6xA9V/1pSPPVLql6Z5mQwFdkhyqCBtq7vBk679xVprXi0ZX2Ohxb8GYmJjExGYpHcTxF3nwzjJUC/ZOxM/ARrSgGAIwfNjsb5rw8cPM2L3dHsrBE9h3YyCvMJbH+e3raj8BvdhCKEq4hdV3rSrdf5Y/7jpAK/BZA/DK4OhJ/hIyiLbMi6mg7kug/nbCabf0HeCIiwkci+DrV9PmfcYNjIiZAFdYpLjPfq+992oS17Imps4uQZ6JmfrWTSWMEGZH8NKe1MOJ/5piWonyNQzxuwgyf94ZStx++HhxLVINPk5CGRmJ55/Uc53AceywVqM9O8P3MpIDeTWj8Y8s4sagm0ka6HmB1nYW7J8gxMgP10mmx0uGvtbJRVsjd6Kbxo9/7DFQ6LX/gVOCfjSoViZk+Y/X16NqmDbzepvhdJpSuN+AW/hPIu7jNwGHsZt3R/KxlofaBpdEOOZCn0osv6u7ABGUlG9k/WhIln1fSdEavZfLrkIUWu5gyt1o6zUruEz7wVzrvhcRDSA5Q1ZGrqWlR1xrEdj3NZjGyPx4MU+GJGXBIrcilaHw6Jz0lpcISP4iVaLLTKSrZKIdi0OMPb83VkKa8BpQFe6zRMUlZ5aV00Hj+u9Juj8wfmfSfmUEtppfwUzQFElXLh9e8LvN9RIfmSHSHmj7jgJq06/tIAB7srEvkJOk/9IvSbOhcxLgpXYbcTz+xO+Cm6OsaKusMMBiYhqAPbftp89gOx4of13CmtPSzVA9/hBb2U2vjFTfErzN624KQZqeZ/EsAZiRriOV2Dg3MfJj4EvKc2yv/xJiW60U8uLPsiiuroaRNL7/JgiGEX3I/HKrVXPQvFS/ODC8SdWMnOA348ODIww9qXxKZLRcsuZ1esmmGOKazTsJcFzHVRHvDQzqv7xjDAQuaWoe/OkR4uW/f2yWtre8jhAYQy3Mw8sbVLbwO5M5YQg+ITRHG4rVfxbgBsRG26CCY+J4F4HNI8NvFLekMvEq/O+QaNV9rwVW0oSL3IWVr3a+INI2MbLVWvGMpHuRSEd78T9t3yY8Ph1gEjXPDYdX+C6wZqMsMUvBJfq08Sc6sEofXdgH0zMqOllnIPZefyZ/4ikD82Vql9GZt7ABTsHR0jHEN8WdDaD2mFH0aS51uQD4Y7Z8QwuwKf3jskovKnKtLr5qxTBhbHoYBv/Ipa7u1UMMrqGsZA3JUvEw96MKAV7sE53EawJDI7WYNA3IhvLWk/+cQ6dVKb1s1wPjXa0ZlknFe5rF/Y/dHzMlkqtQlyCxZFe4SOfGGFvVXfAzTuFBdIlxdTrHm7xvvpeI1D3KmymB1OLiSpHHbLnIQ7rgLEU7g5+5/GvrwzFChO0sqtE/39GFFgoB3yL1zRJeniZYPtlM145OBoR7JphOUonDkbgMO8NFWZIoHDsM6jVNRswa5YdepRl2d5uJT9sI/FlVqN1byVWYlyUSsYRwsHWS7+01iIMeK92MClniXEZL0+P+ndTr0un/smqE0vA7QWYrAGDsduhL2gZLa5aM9taAzj/cuLFuQgGgjwPY2du064S3Db1Gb5WFfgZwvxZEu3RUB6PKl0RNWBgxB8SpkXS2Yuvkxda17UfFMaV7e1y+ofmT8SlKiRLbflkBM89/ho8zLc6LU9mYmrvvv3Pj7lyw/OH1gHDUFzKrklK9L1rcRHCyesuTjTAfu+E4Mz5DxbhfBtYF4FzdNdWfMEJctGqxOi/HPFOL2fs5g8vT15YRewpWnbXiiX82+9CoM8roJjGlB61ICbUBIqOevevSrEhwzhjHOKMg/8+gT/lfJliK5dX15RQaBsWgDcuwe7x1EBeXXQQV0hdoaqgtqxGx1PK+gvL8WySqxK74MMs6NsX+zx0vWTLDiOlzkfZ/V3W6nhq0rB6B/rQqm945XbDn3fbNNZFHq4MBmoc4TRX0zmSTGhoorveONyaHQcFijKJE46FX3yR5uO5Z3vyKi769rVSQh5cLnVrMytdK0slM/ZRNP//g42ByspfCbnlVrmS2h56Krdw/1sKooVkg/u5gdQkmimjS8W9vtTYe8N3gXTxmpIB7eb9CL/4tHC219tPl2/Xnyr3LTGOUO1qxU0BXKnCds6vKeeqED0oIFBgImHzdrqWP5AISyPJ4DzEiJO+ui/XRWUPLM4mQ8aEuBYFBy1faDchqxdRpglpFpxqMt5prPMHZj6IjFSB7IfaddLBmGArp2qNePkFdCd3E8hw7AICIlDOzHWAULZjzCL2O3eZLwrRlscTNNuohdq73xC9ciwG4STKWuak8hlQg0IAWILNFFq/3EjSOj10Ov6YRuVxQ7hr56dMPGVEoxtWZ3lQxC67sCAg4xj207aiC7LE+WTJJkskM22Y8kZozIs3E4dVvnNJCQXhmSWHXmkz5R4QyD8iR24Mr6AAOdjFeErMyRYLgYutBhRGz6VEPHkPgr2gtxlqz0YNRIVRy3GmVQ6S89Wfho+zeJXuSFT4QXXNngCqDUegqkD/IHsOtWbH0pGa35ExKWTx6+tB9VVc470vfeIrpaeHEIXP/KziR+crHHhglIJQcAyhdHuw7CgAuhUcCMG0AYUWRzxplKouqMTElZ43TssbDXfCv5V5Yivt/ZQWWRnrW7mIowKJk9a36sUqie55Y9RqmASgjqPkh9uu68MrZoA3wvnndLALEKW4qv9KCoo1AQuFC2Au4cqIMFzix6m+UJ394ztj5ByaemaB1t5AYj/1YYS0OjoHRciJHCq/IthGZXtXnq7ttm3KiI2sBa5zbKorXNHKbXvDonb0b0q8/taXvUYJqQUVDQDk57UA2jEK/LemDnXHhk75rLQda/VPdlRyA1R7aeWYrOwaT8W+CMg9MjRivpEgE97Hn3WHUot1pK2Hkb4B32+uXOw2Fv6NZpX/1DTaOWp1VVTHK9Iddjs6GYROpVwnrrM74dMQi+fsHvPuZkBrmJGGa7Z7/+RgRSrjYgpMkSA7foIMIaKaP5KDo6NyiUNgTHRZg9/Un6xjZN5wWly1W49oKbUuTJAfhtR9O0aIDTpG2zg+20Md/gjh/1cDZR++Z2eZiHM4736yLB9J6/wT8ldjkopEqFymfkRgGugFLYYPw1yZg1VPSQSRslFfOrPebibixIGHcs41Xiw+daJ8IfZtPAdWem5c+6WFxONHNl68lzVF68vgkVTzDnZmlJTUeIj9AWkV7zFfUZPej/OeHeBFgkrsS0E73A/Vy/dFSwADqHAjOcE9AN92w6s5Ayoz/4QUM1SrCyAtWs4tFhQvdSn8V6n1F7jwcVyhAgOM+IKV8/t5mcwoZuAxoapYJ3JiSUfjjtS41WFsiu/GQRuSyRcRVmYAMbNvLhFLtnqnV9dhe7NJCfTGIJgnedpg6ZsKD1hDJBnSKSzsKNx7TVb5IC16hoVdQZiZVBWhHfTml5We9zSNXQdU6B/bL8elVLjEUGEJ+aInU06/pQJRDYlPHLgzLCxcySIYaywHDyOCkYykmU8rqq2uiopQOgvXdvP40p5xgyxHPVma1C2Y5Gt+FfT5WObi3hE73FBp4phdhyu0kYVpiBJOECyiEcPIWMOgQFJ/vMWbrXENSGTZhUQXztKGYtqLI8GFH1Sqlafhoco69DNbJZ7uIcieCQzNk86RKDFc5OJIIQQ0USY34xLl3sapbdNJPa9nOu5++2VYcTivLyN4iHMOTl3V4V0QUIAIyn5tZdLyeAN3TzYpUaLXATTqMjSripGakDr8HtIo07fG/NQU8g+kQdWCsMwI8acMMeR94Jm6vW3A30dUmFheuaxuVzXkMBKeJkpDjuPOdwksxSzqCINI8+bMMzxPrnxxh05/E6tdJSdDJQikZsLlB1T6QECSFSlP/oyNbxdZ6+ZNK8t0WTgm1M+O/YrNbJORxTFdemKFwdTBsz9HIZ3wwHa27Gz7Xto3hkB+Ywx9BC3cumfeTvtc/RLlEg0OaLipeYClK9CwMN9yg8sOiRDpLxi3XYR5Itx2hQXjaw0N11V8s+bbWaJsMyYqcHiiBhVqVAnujxq0+yLgdMuax+Gha2+IBWO9sk4Y2pCOqMKNqNESoyrEaNGNuV+B4PV54gItLSJgC/eymvBmpCe/f/GQstl8Rq6aNpiBh8X+qiNrFJtND4b2Pitr6qLmXVeZxCX77gQgboduEB/+re6v1B6ozHzWfOHNYCWleJ/LjVMnevXxbki7fxftpRpgx4D4ZcBV8oqOJ5NV+wWfdZNqefc4Y/f6gmfr2xX+PQmWtG/txaVsShSFLri7j+LjMu+CJ0i/MsWgpFU8wdaYfU2Yg8LU9j8mPKBLWDv1mVCdU6wLP5ULjEPW/WeikLcq2Sue6ITLL+SamVeugyWFiIVsZZnfHPElRejoWvHAXSLkuIxmyAbjFf9ypyDbfo1AUc7XI937v07Qvzi4GCsHZAbmNzWSx/EQX93LAXBRt4T1zPO1zZV1YVECWX9t6ZWkyHBcfOmxGZbBh35a928Uo/0KAZnuVE/g7xM3A6gEGli4yZwjFrxhWFTzmEpf2snigsdicP5eTnjGpq9HjwbxuwD5R7OXvnWurjBvLZrLwL3DLniUdimateFfxgJmwKzhQSL6VZ8O9asJu8urbAENiJWz5NY3xxTcCqR7n+c75r0zcDq1Xuqr2An+58/8LDlicTWHo8F4Bfpidgbsa/9g82TWIyxqKEOcTwM9+i9FEoA2REqn1QujBM5M0Y4GWUwA/ofyf3jp1KyP7YsWbFBW9/IHqY+epwhcgvksZBxklujgbcIOx3che7buzJNWBiIoN6IkAB7LYlDybQPq/Zs7O6m1wPgAjWYFQQeVGrov28witgh5607pHq+ho3Mxwwm0r9NpkHH3h/ZHcZ+4AA8dUAfAWLTpKqSjf/N4g8nR/f0YmjREZDGVaqX0fmadIyYDw19N74MaD3p8PJiQe5CDS2RCJ+hjypENAoCBBtWbegrieKh5Mp8gHe6m89nO8DYlRFeQn3W4NoK96l8UR8ONMgpuYtOOkdg/0IwlS5ztsl+aNb4EKNo64b6XqrsEaxfuhPAIDnuOtoLy/ZHj+gGzYPrS4f2JzoalzOwA/Mf84LcOAI0X2HMim9BJeSYBDgJ0g9HqlHHgAA=" /><br /><br />Lisa Graff is one of those authors that I find very confusing. There are some books she has written that are my favorites (<b>Umbrella Summer</b>) and some books that I didn't like at all (<b>Tangle of Knots</b>). For me, when she delves into magic she loses me. Her realistic fiction books appeal to me much more. Thankfully, <b>The Great Treehouse War</b> has no fantasy elements whatsoever and I really liked it!<br /><br />Fifth grader Winnie's parents get divorced at the beginning of the story. What makes this situation so unique is the way her parents decide to split their time with her. Winnie's parents are sticklers for everything being exactly even, but seven days in a week will never divide evenly. That's when they come up with a unique plan for custody. Winnie will spend three day with her mom, three days with her dad and the last day alone in her treehouse which sits directly in the middle of her parents homes. Her Wednesday treehouse day quickly becomes her favorite as her parents begin to compete with one another for her affection. In a fun twist, her treehouse becomes a place that her parents can't legally access, and she decides to stay there full time until her parents stop their bickering. Winnie has a close group of friends that decide they too need some time away from their parents, so they join her in the treehouse until their lists of demands are met by the grownups (more screen time, more game time, etc). Soon, news of the kids living alone in a treehouse makes national headlines and the kids get much more attention than they bargained for.<br /><br />This is a very fun book and I know my students really enjoy it, but her parents drive me crazy. I found their constant fighting over Winnie to be very frustrating. It was all extremely exaggerated such as fights over who she calls first, waves to first, leaves a note for first and so on. They constantly try to outdo each other and absolutely refuse to be in the same room together. Winnie is failing her classes and her parents are too concerned with which one of them the principal e-mailed first to actually care about her grades.&nbsp; Winnie tries over and over to talk to them, but their arguing never lets up- thus the treehouse war begins.&nbsp; The idea of an epic slumber party that never ends seems like a great idea in theory but in reality, the kids eventually learn that they miss and need their parents. Winnie is desperate to find a way for her parents to realize THEY need HER and to put their differences aside. Overall it is cute and clever and living in the treehouse seems like great fun. Once I accepted that her parents were the WORST, I enjoyed it much more. I think 3rd grade and up will like this book.<br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/514L7ScRrwL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br />As a huge fan of Chris Grabenstein (Mr. Lemoncello's Library), I was excited to read the first in his new series <b>Welcome to Wonderland: Home Sweet Motel</b>. It's always a bonus when the main character is a boy because I know my male students will like it. Girls will read stories with male and female lead characters, but boys seem to like boy books the best. I know they will like this because this story is quite fun!<br /><br />Eleven year old P.T. takes after his namesake P.T. Barnum. He is a great showman who tells outlandish yarns and entertains his class with all of his hijinxs. P.T. lives with his mother and grandfather in The Wonderland Motel. It's a fantastic place with quite a few attractions, but unfortunately, it has to complete with Disney World! The Wonderland would do well anywhere other than Orlando. Because business is so bad, the bank has given them 30 days to raise $100,000 or they will lose the property.&nbsp; P.T. and his new friend Gloria have to THINK BIG! He's a born entertainer so he is hopeful his fun new plans along with Gloria's keen business skill will save the day, but it's not easy. When they come across an old mystery about a missing treasure, they are certain that following the clues will lead them to the money they need.<br /><br />This is a very entertaining book! P.T. is a bit of a con man, but it's all in good fun. He is clever and sharp and Gloria is a great straight man for his routine, Their ideas to save the motel such as frog karaoke and beachfront scavenger hunts are very creative. I love the way P.T. respects and loves his grandfather as well. The only part I could have done without is the bumbling grumpy teacher Mr. Frumpkes who tries to foil P.T.'s grand plans. The scenes with him are just slightly disrespectful on both the part of the students and teacher. Other than that, it was an amusing adventure, and I'm looking forward to visiting the gang again in the next book. A great read for grades 3 and up!<br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-89750461967779508122018-01-03T17:26:00.000-05:002018-01-03T17:37:04.849-05:00#mustreadin2018<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="187" src="https://thereisabookforthat.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/mustreadin2018.jpg?w=521&amp;h=305" width="320" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Happy 2018! Last year I had 40 books on my list and I completed 26 of them. I’m not counting the books I started and didn’t finish because there were a few I couldn’t force myself to keep reading! While I didn’t finish the list, I’m certain I read well over 50 titles. I am always coming across new books and authors I hadn’t planned on reading (Barnes and Noble shelf browsing is awesome). Besides the titles below, I have a few overall goals for reading this year. I want to read more early chapter books. My youngest students love to read, and I want to have a healthy selection for them. Also, my weakness is boy fantasy books. Outside of The Lightning Thief, I just DON’T LIKE THEM! My male students love The Warrior series and I have tried to like it, I promise I have! I can’t get through it. Regardless of my personal preference, I need to know what’s popular so I can keep that section of the library growing for fantasy genre lovers. My last goal is to try and stay away from sad books. No more death, illness, divorce, severe bullying, depression or tragic accidents. No more books about losing parents, siblings and best friends. I know these are all important topics, but I feel like I was inundated with them last year. I am convinced that I can find great stories that are positive. I know every tale needs a conflict but maybe the problems can be more minor.&nbsp; I would rather my students get lost in a world of magic, mystery or silly fun instead of adding to their worries. Hopefully my 27 choices for this year will keep all of us smiling!</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><img alt="Supergifted by [Korman, Gordon]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51dY%2BEbYr2L.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Game Masters of Garden Place by [Markell, Denis]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61NCtwg2bsL.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Last Grand Adventure by [Behrens, Rebecca]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51r5e80pUbL.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Winterhouse by [Guterson, Ben]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Up-1o2KlL.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Granted by [Anderson, John David]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/510CqhwiRVL.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Wild Robot Escapes by [Brown, Peter]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51pUeiumdYL.jpg" width="136" /><img alt="The Creature of the Pines (The Unicorn Rescue Society) by [Gidwitz, Adam]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/612DJg8QJQL.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Snow Lane by [Angelini, Josie]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61ypv0NybFL.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="Lucy Castor Finds Her Sparkle by [Lowe, Natasha]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51VxjenD4mL.jpg" width="132" /><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61IpI2uWKlL._SX342_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="137" /><img height="200" src="data:image/webp;base64,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" width="133" /><img alt="Fenway and Hattie by [Coe, Victoria J.]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51l3Ui7vBzL.jpg" width="130" /><img alt="You Throw Like a Girl (mix)" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51tLJ31K-iL._SR134,200_.jpg" /><img alt="Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51HscA9wdmL._SR133,200_.jpg" /><img alt="Ivy" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51O5QNg4uHL._SR132,200_.jpg" /><img alt="The Ember Stone: A Branches Book (The Last Firehawk #1)" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51zAWg87rKL._SR137,200_.jpg" /><img alt="The House That Lou Built" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51DEhfbKoHL._SR132,200_.jpg" /><img alt="Front Desk" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51nopnopPDL._SR133,200_.jpg" /><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BZ0j9P7gL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Lions &amp; Liars" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51C%2BNuKwl3L._SR130,200_.jpg" /><img alt="Bob" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51enbcy3OZL._SR137,200_.jpg" /><img alt="Maggie &amp; Abby's Neverending Pillow Fort" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51K-KyIpcvL._SR132,200_.jpg" /><img alt="Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51mM9y3-AKL._SR131,200_.jpg" /><img alt="Sparrow Road" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51jp6ttrg8L._SR132,200_.jpg" /><img alt="I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Hr%2BjJRXvL._SR135,200_.jpg" /><img alt="Ellie, Engineer" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51AN63GIdSL._SR132,200_.jpg" /><img alt="Greetings from Witness Protection!" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51GGj6mv9CL._SR139,200_.jpg" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-79879413278597495882017-12-28T17:35:00.002-05:002017-12-28T18:09:28.909-05:00Some New Middle Grade Favorites!&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img alt="Refugee by [Gratz, Alan]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Khwf0XmuL.jpg" width="137" /><br /><br />Every once in a while, I read a book that affects me so profoundly that I call all of my friends and tell them they HAVE TO READ IT! <b>Refugee</b> by Alan Gratz is one of those books. I'll admit, I've never been a huge history buff so I tend to shy away from historical fiction. This book, however, might have changed my reading habits. It tells three different stories about children who become refugees while escaping persecution. The first child is Josef whose Jewish family is running from the atrocities of WWII by ship. The second is Isabel, a Cuban girl whose family is trying to escape the oppression of Castro in 1994 by raft and finally, Mahmoud whose Syrian family is struggling to flee war torn Syria on foot. Each one of their stories is completely engrossing. The dangers the families face seem unreal, and it's difficult to grasp that this all really happened and is still happening today. These stories are very emotional and focus on innocent children during wartime. Their journeys stem not from bravery, but from life and death situations. However, the bravery they show facing numerous challenges is a continuous theme throughout the book<br /><br />The chapters rotate through the three narrators and just when I couldn't wait to see what happened next, it would switch to the other stories. This is quite all right though as each chapter is as captivating as the next. I did have a friend mention to me that she skipped through and read each child's story completely. My advice would be not to do this because you might not fully appreciate the twist at the end of the book.&nbsp; This one is a bit tough for me to gauge a recommended age level. This is marketed for 9-12 year old children. The reading level is fine for middle grade students, but some might be scared by the guns, bombings, drownings, and other near death experiences. It was difficult for me to process the heartbreak, so I worry about sensitive readers. I would say 6th grade and up with parents being aware of the content.<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img alt="Laura Ingalls Is Ruining My Life by [Tougas, Shelley]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51xGuw0wlEL.jpg" width="133" /><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">I recently finished <b>Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life </b>by Shelley Tougas after Amazon suggested I might like it based on my other interests.&nbsp;&nbsp;I had never heard of this book before, but I had to give it a shot based on the title alone! I’ve always been a Little House fan and was curious as to the premise of this story. I found it to be very entertaining with several great lessons for middle grade students. Charlotte and her family have been nomads for as long as she can remember. Her mother is a free spirited hippie like woman who moves her family from town to town in a constant search for positive energy and spiritual fulfillment. For this most recent move, Charlotte’s mom is trying to write a children’s book about prairie life so naturally she must transport her children to the town of Walnut Grove to channel the ultimate prairie spirit- Laura Ingalls Wilder. A small town like Walnut Grove isn't really at the top of Charlotte's list of&nbsp; places she would like to live, so her&nbsp; journey starts with a negative attitude before she even arrives.&nbsp; Adding to that, Charlotte, her twin Freddy, and half sister Rose have been uprooted so many times that Charlotte is determined not to make any friends since she will just have to leave them when her mother gets another whim and moves them again. Girls at school try to befriend her, but Charlotte is convinced they will be like mean girls she has known in the past and her new teacher, Mrs. Newman, doesn’t stand a chance with Charlotte again based on past experiences. Charlotte's grand plan is to isolate herself as much as possible and limit social interactions. When her brother Freddy, the only constant in her life, starts to pull away and make new friends, Charlotte feels lonelier than ever. Adding to her struggles, while made famous through the Little House books, life in Walnut Grove is difficult. The town is tiny without a lot of activities and the winters are extremely harsh&nbsp; In a twist of events, Charlotte, who is sick of hearing about Laura, inadvertently gets a job volunteering at the Laura Ingalls Museum and ultimately realizes the old books can actually teach her a thing or two about acceptance and gratitude. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This is a book I would certainly recommend.to everyone whether they were fans of Ingalls or not.&nbsp; I thoroughly enjoyed all of the references to a Pa Ingalls, Plum Creek and Nellie Olsen, but besides the history, it’s mostly a story about family and sibling relationships. As brothers and sisters grow older, roles change and these three children have to navigate that. There is much of the book that was funny and lighthearted but also parts that were a little sad. Living with a flighty mother that needs as much care as a child is another problem facing the siblings. Reading about the mom was frustrating at times because while she loves her kids, her choices are very selfish. While her character is annoying the rest of the story is quite enjoyable. Of course I was rooting for Charlotte to overcome her fear of rejection and find true stability and happiness but there are some funny bumps along the way. I hope that students will read this and perhaps take another look at the original Laura Ingalls Wilder books.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="Restart by [Korman, Gordon]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51busCN8oIL.jpg" width="132" /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Restart,&nbsp;</b>Gordon Korman’s newest novel, is a phenomenal book. I wish every middle school would make it required reading. The story begins with eighth grade student Chase falling from his roof and waking in the hospital with amnesia. While he can walk and talk, he has no memory of his family, friends, or life before the fall. When he is finally ready to return to school, still suffering from amnesia, he notices that students seem to be avoiding him and teachers aren’t especially nice to him. Worst of all, the boys that say they are his best friends are total thugs and they expect Chase to be the same way. He soon discovers that the other students avoid him because they fear him. Before the accident, he was the school’s worst bully. He was merciless to students who couldn’t defend themselves and horribly disrespectful to adults. The post-accident Chase can hardly believe the terrible stories he hears about the way he used to be before he hit his head. &nbsp;He doesn’t have the slightest inclination to be rude or mean to anyone or any memory of acting that way. He’s kind, thoughtful, and polite and is actually disgusted by the boys who were once his friends. They still behave the way he used to behave and they don't respect his choice to be a better person. Chase attends school each day hoping for someone he used to bully to give him a second chance. Finally, Brendan, a boy Chase used to torture from the AV club, reaches out and offers Chase a spot in the club. The other members are horrified. Chase made their lives miserable and is even the sole reason one of the club members, Joel, had to switch schools. Joel’s sister, Shosanna, has the most difficulty with Chase and is very upset that he gets assigned to work with her on a special project at the community retirement home. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What I found so moving in this story is the depths of Chase’s guilt when he discovers who he used to be. I could feel his deep regret as I was reading each chapter. Even though he targeted many students&nbsp; before the accident, Chase is a victim now as well. He is a victim of his past actions and suffers the consequences. The sub plot of the retirement home is a way for him to redeem himself.&nbsp; Meeting some of the elderly residents helps to shape the moral compass of the new Chase. While the amnesia is at first tough for him, all of the characters in the book, including Chase, come to learn that it is actually a profound gift for them- the chance to start over and become the people they were once too scared to be. I highly recommend this book to all middle level readers.<o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-34970370029600473052017-11-19T19:33:00.003-05:002017-11-19T19:33:42.230-05:00Book Fair BonanzaIt's the most wonderful time of the year- that's right, Book Fair time! We recently held our school book fair, and I'm always amazed at how excited both students and parents are to attend. As soon as I announce the fair date, the kids burst into squeals of delight. I also celebrate because I know I will have the chance to peruse many new titles. Today's post is about some of my favorites from the fair.<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51KH6OOyIFL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br />When I first glanced at this book, I thought it was going to be much scarier than it actually was. I thought there might have been ghosts or haunted woods or something creepy, but the story is NOTHING like that at all. It's actually a really neat story with a few unexpected plot twists. The main character in <b>The Secret of Nightingale Wood</b>&nbsp;by Lucy Strange is Henrietta, Henry for short, a young girl living in 1919. Her family moves to a new home after the tragic death of her brother Robert. Her mother is suffering from extreme depression due to Robert's death and the family hopes that country living will help them all to heal. The father, growing frustrated with Mama, takes an extended work trip leaving Nanny Jane in charge of Henry and her baby sister Piglet (yes, Piglet). Before he leaves, Father allows a local doctor to take care of Mama, but Dr. Hardy is a little TOO excited to try experimental treatments on her. Mama is growing worse everyday, not speaking or eating and sleeping all day long while Henry has been banished from seeing her. Henry knows she MUST save her mother but how can a young girl take on the powerful town doctor? Henry finds help and guidance in the mysterious lights in the woods of Hope House and at the same time helps to solve a mystery from long ago.<br /><br />I really liked this book. While it dealt with mature topics, the tone and writing is still definitely for children. It powerfully portrayed the effects of grief on an entire family. Also what is unique about this story is the description of treatment for mental illness at this time in history. People suffering from depression had little help and being locked away was the best answer. Henry was a very strong and brave character who refuses to give up on her mother. She is clever and willing to take whatever risks necessary to keep Dr. Hardy away from Mama. The mystery of Hope House and the hidden room (I love a good hidden room) added to the suspense of the story. This isn't exactly a lighthearted tale, but a great story nonetheless for the right mature middle grade reader.<br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img alt="Weekends with Max and His Dad by [Urban, Linda]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51-urz-lYXL.jpg" width="141" /><br /><br /><b>Weekends With Max and His Dad</b> tackles the subject of divorce in a positive way. Instead of dwelling on Max's sadness, Lind Urban write about all of the adventures Max gets to have with his dad when they spend their weekends together. Each weekend is a new experience where Max gets to meet fun new neighbors, set up the new apartment and play super spies with his Dad (all while eating their special pancakes).<br /><br />Divorce is very difficult for an entire family, but what's nice about this book is that it doesn't focus at all on the problems that led to the parent's separation. It doesn't mention anything that happened before their first weekend together. Max isn't bitter or sad and his father is genuinely excited to see him and spend time together. It's obvious to the reader that Max's Dad is trying very hard to help Max feel safe and loved. Max has two homes and one isn't better than the other- just different. I wouldn't go so far as to say that this story makes divorce look easy- Max still has times where he feels awkward and uncomfortable in his new circumstances, but his father's obvious care and love helps him adjust. Max learns that his father's new place can be filled with love and be just as much of a home as the one he shares with his mother. This is geared towards students in grades 2-5 and the writing clearly reflects that age group. There is quite a bit of humor and again, no deep raging emotions about divorce. It's sweet and I would certainly recommend it to young students whether their situation matches Max's or not.<br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51KWoUeK6yL._SX342_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="137" /><br /><br />My gripe about graphic novels has always been that young students will often read them without checking the reading level or looking to see if the content is appropriate. If it's got pictures, most kids will assume it's fine for all ages. Unfortunately, that's not always the case and students are reading graphic novels way above their reading and maturity level. Graphic novels are just super fun to read and everyone wants one! This is why I have been on a hunt for graphic novels that are perfect for a young audience. I think <b>According to Aggie</b> fits the bill! It's an American Girl graphic novel by Mary Richard Beumont based on the recurring "Aggie" article in&nbsp; AG Magazine.<br /><br />&nbsp;Aggie is 11 years old and is finding that her friendships are beginning to change. Her best friend Fiona is starting to pull away and cancel their long standing Friday afternoon play date. They didn't have a fight or any kind of disagreement. Fiona is simply starting to develop different interests and make new friends. Aggie is saddened by the way things are going and searches for an answer as to why things are changing. As Aggie's mother tells her, sometimes there is no real answer.&nbsp; Along the way Aggie befriends a new student and realizes that while she misses Fiona, she can still be happy.<br /><br />This is a very common problem for young students. As they grow and change, friends often drift apart. What this novel does so well is that it is empathetic to young children in this situation while offering hope. I think someone going through friendship changes&nbsp; will find a lot of comfort from Aggie's situation. Being in graphic novel form makes this story easy to read and the content never gets too mature. It is simple and sensitive to tween feelings and sure to be an excellent choice for parents and children to read together.<br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img alt="Bizzy Mizz Lizzie by [Shannon, David]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61DvVXKCnFL._SY346_.jpg" width="145" /><br /><br />I'm certain we all know people with seriously over-scheduled children. I'd love to wrap this one up and anonymously mail it to some of my mom friends.&nbsp; <b>Bizzy Mizz Lizzie</b> is the latest creation of the AMAZING David Shannon. Lizzie is a busy bee that is involved in a ridiculous amount of after school activities. She flits from one thing to the next without ever having time to stop and be lazy with her friend Mizz Daisy. My favorite line in this story goes something like, "the only bee busier than Lizzie is her mother who has to fly her everywhere." I'm sure most parents can relate! Along with participating in an abundance of activities, Lizzie also feels the need to excel at all of them. She goes full speed ahead until one day she just physically can't do it anymore. She cracks. The consequences of what she sees as a failure turn out to be EXACTLY what Lizzie needs- time to stop and quite literally smell the roses. I think this book is for kids of all ages because this is an ever growing problem and a great lesson for both children and parents (myself included).<br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness by [Verde, Susan]" height="199" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51W427j1iSL._SX260_.jpg" width="200" /><br /><b>I Am Peace</b> is the perfect book to heal the Bizzy Mizz Lizzies of the world! Written by Susan Verde and illustrated by the phenomenal Peter Reynolds, this is a book about mindfulness. Mindfulness is a word I have been hearing quite a bit lately. I think it's growing in popularity because our world is moving at a frenetic pace that we haven't seen before. Mindfulness is the practice of being in the moment and aware of current surroundings. It's a way to calm and relieve stress. Too often, our children are in the "what if" worry zone and need reminding to focus on the present. This book is a beautiful guide to doing just that. Each page takes the reader on a guided mediation to connect with earth, wonder about nature and focus on the fives senses. It asks the reader to close his or her eyes and be still. I read it to my second grade class and I think I got as much out of it as they did. I'm not sure I ever sat in my classroom with my eyes closed and focused on the sounds around me. I could hear other teachers, kids in the hallway, doors closing, footsteps, the heater switching on, and music from somewhere in the building. I was quite refreshed when I opened my eyes. I really enjoyed reading this book and my students shared they liked it as well. I think it's an excellent gift (and reminder) for all ages.<br /><br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-54697739990945564532017-09-17T15:29:00.001-04:002017-09-17T16:23:15.484-04:00I'm Back And So Are These Stories!I'm back to blogging! I took a full month off from my blog to focus on my family, back to school preparation, enjoying the last days of nice weather and everything else the end of summer brings! I have certainly kept reading, and I'm excited to share some new titles. All of the books I read this week are the second in a series. I'm not a huge fan of sequels, because like the movies, they sometimes disappoint, but I simply must find out what happens to my favorite characters.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Db6O7dnKL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br />I don't think this one is so much a sequel as it just shifts focus to another character in the Charm Girls club series by Jenny Lundquist. The first book about the girls is <b>The Charming Life of Izzy Malone</b>. There we meet Izzy and her friends and learn of their delightful club. The charm girls earn charms for their bracelets by completing a variety of &nbsp;different tasks. In <b>The Wondrous World of Violet Barnaby</b>, we learn more about Violet, who in the first book, recently lost her mother. It's now been a year and a half since her mother's passing and Violet's father has remarried. He could have dated and married any eligible female on the planet but instead chose "The Hammer," the strictest and most difficult teacher at Violet's school. As she is packing her belongings to move into The Hammer's (Melanie's) house, Violet finds a letter addressed to her that her mother wrote before she died. Her mother compiled a Christmas Wish List full of experiences that she wanted Violet to have such as making a snow angel and baking Christmas cookies. Unfortunately, Violet is NOT in a holiday mood and moving to a new home surrounded by someone else's belongings (someone who is NOT her mother), isn't helping her Christmas spirit. Violet must rely on her friends, her new crush, and her new step siblings to find some holiday joy.<br /><br />I haven't read the first book, but I ordered it immediately because I really liked this one! Violet is heartbroken, and she's trying to navigate her new surroundings and deal with her grief at the same time. The entire blended family struggles with combining old and new traditions, and I think that's a relatable topic for many children today. Violet is a likable character and her friends will show readers what true friendship among tweens should look like. They aren't mean girls obsessed with material goods or any of those typical stereotypes. Great book for grades 4 and up!<br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51lRO339RiL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br />I adored <b>The Littlest Bigfoot </b>by popular adult author Jennifer Weiner. I'll admit I was nervous to read the second installment, <b>Little Bigfoot, Big City</b> because I was afraid it wouldn't be as great as the first. I found it to be better than a typical middle novel because there were answers to some of the questions but there was another cliffhanger at the end. Many readers love this kind of thing, but I like instant gratification! While I want a resolution ASAP, it's such a unique story that I will hang in there until the end.<br /><br />Alice learns at the end of the first book that she isn't human so she is searching for answers about what she might be instead. We do get an answer to that question, but a good bit of the story is about her changing friendship with Millie. Like any pre-teen females, they have hit a rough patch and become a little insecure about their bond. As Alice is searching for answers to her past, Millie is focused on achieving her dream of becoming a future singing superstar. Each girl is on a very different path, but they still need each other for support.<br /><br />Like all of &nbsp;Ms. Weiner's novels, this book is engaging and fun to read. The Yare lifestyle is simply fascinating to me and I actually gasped out loud when Millie took the potion to remove her fur!! The story moves quickly and as new mysteries are revealed, we get answers to questions from the first book. I really like this series and I hope I can encourage more students to give it a chance!<br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="Swing It, Sunny by [Holm, Jennifer L.]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51b3dh5glsL.jpg" width="137" /><br /><br />First let me start by writing that I really liked the first book in this series- <b>Sunny Side Up.</b> Jennifer Holm certainly has a talent for writing children/YA books. I think most young readers can find themselves represented in her characters and their stories. <b>Swing It Sunny</b> picks up shortly after Sunny returns from her grandfather's home in Florida. The main conflict of the story remains Sunny's struggle with her brother's troubles. In this book, Dale has been sent to boarding school to try and get his life back on track. Sunny is disappointed that it's taking longer than she would like and she is unsure of where she stands with him. Luckily she has her best friend and also a fun new neighbor to keep her smiling.<br /><br />I liked this story, but I wanted much more. I finished reading it in fifteen minutes. I know my students will love the style of short chapters and of course, the pictures are awesome, but I found myself wanting more conflict and plot twists. I kept reading waiting for something big on the next page, but then it ended. Sunny does get a resolution to her problems with her brother and she gains a lot of self confidence from her baton twirling older neighbor. Maybe I am missing the point. I often gripe that graphic novels are too mature for young readers. Perhaps Sunny's conflicts are just enough for the 9-12 age group. The quick turnaround of her problems and lack of any major drama are what elementary age students are looking for. Maybe I spent this summer reading too many complicated novels with twists and turns. The 70's references of Six Million Dollar Man and Gilligan's Island etc., are really fun to read and it certainly makes me nostalgic! No matter what I think, I DO believe my students will pick this up and it will get checked out every week!<br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-75717540991377103082017-08-09T22:58:00.005-04:002017-08-10T07:56:15.089-04:00The Real Us Blog Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FgTlPE-g2hk/WYvB7ZepdII/AAAAAAAAlgE/o2CUPRmSYewGRJIeu4boPDW1pD-Z30owwCLcBGAs/s1600/blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="828" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FgTlPE-g2hk/WYvB7ZepdII/AAAAAAAAlgE/o2CUPRmSYewGRJIeu4boPDW1pD-Z30owwCLcBGAs/s400/blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="31145015" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1499237944l/31145015.jpg" width="133" /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve been a fan of Tommy Greenwald for a long time. My students and my own children love the Charlie Joe Jackson series, so I was thrilled to get a copy of his newest title <b>The Real Us</b>. It certainly didn’t disappoint. This book is for every tween who struggles with both fitting in and standing out.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Calista Getz is the prettiest and, of course, most popular girl in her class. She is admired by her classmates, coaches and teachers. Calista’s first week of school begins&nbsp;perfectly with her two best friends, Ellie and Ella, by her side and the promise of a date with super cute Patrick for the First Week Dance. Everything at her lunch table is going really well, but Calista and her friends aren’t the only ones in the cafeteria. Artistic and quiet Damian White has watched Calista from afar all last year, and he knows there is much more to her than her looks. He doesn’t dare approach her due to an embarrassing medical condition that causes him to sweat- A LOT! Laura Corbett also watches Calista and wonders why they stopped being best friends once Calista became uber popular. Laura remembers how Calista used to love soccer and reading and all of their fun adventures before Calista’a popularity soared. It hurts that Calista seems to have moved on from their friendship, but there's no room at the popular table for smart, but chubby Laura. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />While the week starts well on Monday, it soon takes a terrible turn for Calista when on Tuesday she gets a pimple, a scaly face rash, and an elbow to the nose. Her looks suddenly turn from beautiful to something from a horror movie. While her face will certainly heal in a couple of days, unfortunately, that’s all it takes for her popular “friends” to drop her like a hot potato. How can they do this to her? She's never had anyone ever treat her this badly. Luckily, Damian and Laura refuse to abandon her like the other kids, and they help Calista understand that she is so much more than her good looks. She has brains and depth and an awesome sense of humor. After her face clears, will Calista return to the popular crowd and their shallow ways or will she find that maybe she has more to offer?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">On the cover of this book it says, "You're more than what people see" and that is certainly the theme of this story. Damian sweats like crazy and Laura is overweight, but they are the most fantastic kids in the book. They represent the majority of a realistic school population where most kids aren't part of the beautiful crowd. This story is told through the three main characters voices in alternating chapters so the readers get a great sense of how the events of the first week of school effect everyone so differently. I'll admit, I was a little surprised by the feelings the tweens revealed. &nbsp;Kids like Calista and Patrick are supposed to rule the school while the Damians and Lauras are supposed to get out of their way, but what makes this story so terrific is that they don't all play into their sterotypes. Laura and Damian aren't the typical outsiders who cower when the popular kids walk by. They are confident and sweet and actually pretty secure kids. They stand up for themselves to kids who are pretty intimidating (Will, Ellie, and Ella) and speak up for others. This isn't a depressing tale of kids who aren't popular getting tormented. It feels more realistic than that. I was also pleasantly surprised by Patrick. I expected him to be the good looking snob who puts kids like Damian in the trash can, but instead, he's a great guy. He's just trying to find his way like everyone else. (I think maybe I've seen Mean Girls one too many times). Even Calista quickly learns not to take herself too seriously and gets over the idea of having to be perfect within the time frame of the story. I think that's what makes this a great upper elementary/middle grade book- it all happens within a week so there's no long drawn out bullying or crisis. This is a light and refreshing look at the class system in middle school. The writing flows easily with humor and heart and I would swear Tommy Greenwald was a pre-teen girl in a former life since he writes them so well! This book is a great way to start a discussion with kids about discovering who they REALLY are and how they REALLY feel and then becoming a more REAL version of themselves. I can't wait to add this to my library!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>Check out the rest of the tour!</b></i><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">7 August&nbsp;</span><a href="http://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Ms. Yingling Reads</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">,&nbsp;</span><a href="http://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">http://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;review</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">8 August&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Maria’s Melange</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.mariaselke.com/</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;—Why I Wrote The Real Us</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9 August&nbsp;</span><a href="http://logcabinlibrary.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Log Cabin Library</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://logcabinlibrary.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">http://logcabinlibrary.blogspot.com/</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;Review, publisher’s description</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">10 August-&nbsp;</span><a href="https://diaryofahappylibrarian.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Diary of a Happy Librarian</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://diaryofahappylibrarian.blogspot.com/-" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">https://diaryofahappylibrarian.blogspot.com/-</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;Review</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">11 August&nbsp;</span><a href="https://gpattridge.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Always in the Middle</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://gpattridge.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">https://gpattridge.com/</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;Make ‘Em Laugh</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">14 August-&nbsp;</span><a href="https://randomlyreading.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Randomly Reading</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://randomlyreading.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">https://randomlyreading.blogspot.com/</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;Review</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">15 August&nbsp;</span><a href="http://onegreatbook.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">One Great Book</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://onegreatbook.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">http://onegreatbook.com/</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;Review</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">16 August-</span><a href="http://www.unleashingreaders.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Unleashing Readers</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">.</span><a href="http://unleashingreaders.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">unleashingreaders.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;Giveaway</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">17 August&nbsp;</span><a href="https://misterdreads.wordpress.com./" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Mr. D. Reads</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://misterdreads.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">https://misterdreads.wordpress.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">. Interview</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">18 August&nbsp;</span><a href="http://tommygreenwald.com/blog/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Tommy Greenwald</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://tommygreenwald.com/blog/" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">http://tommygreenwald.com/blog/</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;Giveaway</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-832547420144119975" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;Work Sans&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(173, 239, 238); font-family: &quot;Work Sans&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 20px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 20px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-64575388075765113502017-07-27T20:42:00.006-04:002017-07-27T20:47:55.921-04:00Ghost Stories by the Campfire #scarystoriesIf you've been following this blog at all, you know my FAVORITE genre is creepy (but not too scary) books. The three books I chose to read this week all fit into that category!<br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img alt="One for Sorrow: A Ghost Story by [Hahn, Mary Downing]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51iprHxVSjL.jpg" width="133" /><br /><br />The QUEEN of children's spooky stories just published this gem last week. Mary Downing Hahn's <b>One For Sorrow</b> is set in 1918, but it's content is very relevant for today's youth. Annie Brown is the new girl in school and can't wait to make friends. She's always been well liked and never had a problem fitting in with other girls. On her first day, she is immediately taken under the wing of Elise Schneider who proclaims they will be "best friends forever." Initially, Annie is excited to have a buddy until she realizes that the other girls can't stand Elise. She is mean, clingy and awkward and is later revealed to be a liar and thief. Elise has deep problems that cause her bad behavior, but the other students treat her terribly not having an ounce of sympathy for her. Poor Annie can't seem to break away from her new "friend" and &nbsp;falls victim to the same bullying that Elise does. When Annie is finally able to get away and befriend the popular girls, she leave Elsie alone once again. Going further, Annie joins in the relentless teasing that Elise endures.<br /><br />Soon the Spanish Influenza rips through the town taking Elise as one of its victims. Annie feels badly but is also slightly relieved she will never see Elise again- or so she thinks!!! SHAZAM!! In typical Mary Downing Hahn fashion, Elise begins to haunt Annie from beyond the grave and forces her to get even with all of the mean girls. Annie feels like she is slowly losing her mind and is desperate for a way to rid herself of the ghost.<br /><br />Quite honestly, I don't even have to read a summary when it comes to this author. I love everything she writes, and I know my students will as well. She's been writing since I was a little girl, and I am thrilled she is still producing scary tales. That said, I was actually a bit torn throughout my reading because Elise really is a nasty girl, and I had trouble feeling sorry for her. It's an interesting view of bullying- does a mean, hateful girl, who is sometimes a bully herself, ever deserve a taste of her own medicine? Of course no one should ever be teased, but I had a hard time finding sympathy for her. At the same time, I don't think the character could have been written any other way. She needed to be awful in life so her ghost could be awful in death. In all, a great read and my students will love it.<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="The Girl with the Ghost Machine by [DeStefano, Lauren]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51l%2BEmoJOUL.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br />Where has Lauren DeStefano been all of my life? <b>The Girl with the Ghost Machine </b>is excellent and quite unique. This one really made me think. What if you could spend one more minute with a dearly departed soul? Would you do it at any cost?<br /><br />Young Emmaline's mother died tragically, and her father has locked himself away in the basement searching for a way to bring her mother's energy back to the land of the living. &nbsp;He spends so much time on his ghost machine that he neglects sweet Emmaline. Much to her shock and surprise, his machine works! She can talk to her mother again- but not without a price.<br /><br />This review is tough to write because I don't want to give away any of the story. There are quite a few twists and turns. I read this one to the last page without a break- it is fantastic! The characters are well written and the plot is incredibly creative. Be warned- if you have lost anyone close, it will be difficult not to think of that person while reading this book. The main theme of the story is grief and the different ways we all handle it. I finished reading with the lingering question of "what if?" for a few days after I closed it.<br /><br />I am excited to add this to the library and will read some of DeStefano's other stories.<br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51UrTYDm5HL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br />From what I can deduce, the <b>The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street</b> is Linday Currie's first solo novel and it's a beaut! I don't often find ghost stories for middle grades set in modern times, and it was a nice surprise.<br /><br />Young Tessa is faced with a move from sunny, bright Florida to a cold and wet Chicago town. She's not happy about the move, and it's made even worse when things start to go bump in the night in her new room. Ghostly drawings appear mysteriously in Tessa's sketch book, her brother's doll cries real tears, and she feels a deep sense of sadness throughout the house. Tessa is certain there is a ghost trying to tell her something. When she accidentally blurts the truth about her haunted home, her new classmates react in a surprising way. Instead of thinking she's crazy, they vow to help her solve the mystery. Andrew, Richie, and Nina become her partners in the paranormal, and they work together to solve a puzzle that's over 100 years old. From libraries to graveyards, they leave no stone unturned to help their ghost find peace.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. I always love a ghost story that is "just right" for younger grades (4-5). It kept me on the edge of my seat but wasn't too scary or violent in any way. &nbsp;It's a neat story and the kids' adventure kept me interested and turning the pages. There is the usual dynamics of tweens trying to find their way and make friends, and the characters are relatable nice kids. There is one small thing bugging me- there is a character, Cassidy, who seems kind of thrown in without a purpose. I don't see a reason for her other than possibly setting up a sequal??? I did have a few unanswered questions at the end, so I'd love a second book. I'm &nbsp;excited to add this title to the library when it's published this October!<br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-60792688990936255942017-07-19T18:25:00.003-04:002017-07-19T18:32:24.863-04:00I Love Summer Reading! #summerreadingMy summer reading in a hammock under a big maple tree continues! I've found a few titles that I had not seen before so I'm excited to share.<br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img alt="Exit Strategy (MAX) by [Allbright, Lauren]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/5127Q6vX84L.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br /><b>Exit Strategy</b> by Lauren Allbright is on my list for purchase this fall. I think my male students will really enjoy it.<br /><br />12- year-old Ross moves from school to school more frequently than some kids change their underwear. His mom is a musician with a traveling show, and Ross moves with her to various cities on the tour always enrolling at a new school. &nbsp;He's pretty quiet in class while he's there, but he has developed an interesting way to leave when it's time to move on to a new district. On his last day, Ross likes to play an epic prank! Whether it's goldfish in the toilets or salt in the coffee machines, Ross starts thinking of his "exit strategy" on the first day. While his pranks are becoming more and more creative, what would happen if Ross had to stay in one place for a while? Who is he if he's not the guy who pulls the last day prank? When an unexpected event lands him in a permanent place, Ross sets out to discover how to be funny without his tricks. He even turns the question of "how to be funny" into a science project. His research leads him in a surprising direction and he discovers that the formula for funny might not be that cut and dry.<br /><br />This story was very entertaining. It's unique and quite endearing. Like most middle grade book characters, Ross has to sort through the minutia of bullies, cute girls, and nerdy science partners. His research on the art of humor will teach him (and the reader) a fantastic lesson. How important is it to be funny? What makes someone or something funny? Do we all laugh at the same things? &nbsp;Does it matter? This is a great book for a reluctant reader because of it's humor and general tomfoolery (that's a great word that I need to use more). My students are going to like this one a great deal.<br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51tvamwIkqL._SX337_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="135" /><br /><br />I'm sorry I didn't get to this book sooner than now as it was published last year. This is another one on my list for order!<br /><br /><b>Far From Fair</b> by Elana Arnold is a terrific book. Odette's life is about to change in a way few of us can imagine. Her parents have made the decision to simplify their lives. They sell their house and all of their belongings and purchase an RV called "the coach." The plan is for her family to live in the camper and travel wherever the road &nbsp;might take them. They will bring only what fits in the coach and only the necessities. While her parents are incredibly excited, it feels like the end of the world for Odette. What about her school, her friends and HER CELL PHONE!? Sharing a confined space (a definite breach of privacy) with her parents and younger brother on a permanent basis feels like the end of the world for Detters. Worst of all, no one bothered to ask her if she would want this life. Nonetheless, they begin their journey up the west coast. Their first stop on their adventure is to see her wise and beloved Grandmom Sissy who Odette discovers is gravely ill. Her grandmother has always been a calming presence for Odette, but Sissy's illness adds to the upheaval of the family's new life. Odette feels more and more powerless with each passing day. Why won't anyone listen to what SHE wants and needs?<br /><br />I happened to be reading this book while I was camping with my family. We were on the third day and I was starting to get a little antsy for the comforts of home and my nice soft bed. I kept looking around as I was reading trying to imagine what it would be like to actually live in the camper. A simple life of adventure and family togetherness seems so appealing until the kids start fighting, the dog starts barking and wifi is no where to be found. This story led to some AWESOME discussions with my children. How much do we really need? Is technology ruining our family time? Wouldn't a cross country adventure be amazing? The jury is still out in my family.<br />I think my 4th-5th grade students will really be able to relate to Odette and her frustrations. The end of this story also teaches a powerful lesson best summed up by the Rolling Stones- You can't always get what you want, but if try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-81086033546156953972017-07-03T12:48:00.001-04:002017-07-03T17:56:12.672-04:00It's Monday What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 07/03/2017Happy Summer! There's something about reading in the summer that is simply magical. I love reading under the shade of a big tree, or while swinging in a hammock, and especially while sitting on a beach. I've read two books this week that I really enjoyed and they are fittingly set during a summer vacation!<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img alt="Quicksand Pond by [Lisle, Janet Taylor]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/513sxAtApJL.jpg" width="133" /><br /><br /><br /><b>Quicksand Pond </b>by Janet Taylor Lisle, starts the way I like all of my books to start- with mention of a long ago mystery and its lingering consequences. Jessie and her family move to a run down rental cottage in a seaside town to try to recapture a simpler time without internet and constant distractions. On the first day, Jessie discovers a huge pond close to her new house and even better- a raft capable of taking her exploring. She soon befriends a local girl named Terri Carr and they start their summer spending long lazy days fixing the raft and having adventures on the pond. As they grow closer, Terri explains all of the local lore focusing on a murder where Terri's grandfather was wrongly accused (so she says). The more Jessie learns of the town's history and of Terri's abusive father and troubled brothers, the more she wonders if being friends with Terri is a good idea. The "no good" Carr family reputation follows Terri wherever she goes and she feels Jessie start to slip away. Soon enough, events happen that paint Terri in a bad light and Jessie must decide whether she trusts her new friend or the town gossip.<br /><br />This is a very engrossing story. Terri and Jessie's friendship is the main story, but there are many subplots- Jessie's parents crumbling marriage, old Henrietta Cutting's knowledge of the long ago murder and Jessie's older sister Julia's quest for independence. There are actually a few too many subplots happening, and I would have liked the focus to have been solely on the girls' friendship. The story is also wrapped up very quickly. I finished reading with many unanswered questions, but perhaps I am supposed to draw my own conclusions. Putting the abrupt ending aside, this book is a page turner for sure! &nbsp;Ultimately, while this is a story about a summer friendship, it's primarily about how a false accusation can ruin lives and the rippling effect it has on everyone involved.<br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img alt="The Emperor's Riddle by [Zhang, Kat]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51NW0SsxA4L.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br />I have never read anything by Kat Zhang before, but I'm glad I tried<b> The Emperor's Riddle.</b> I usually don't love books set in China, but this one is EXCELLENT! Mia Chen is spending the summer with her family visiting her mother and Aunt Lin's village &nbsp;in China. Mia is very close to her Aunt Lin and is excited to spend time with her exploring history and solving puzzles (their favorite hobby). Aunt Lin has shared stories of ancient treasures with Mia for as long as Mia can remember and their trip to China is the perfect setting to go exploring. One night, Aunt Lin suddenly disappears and while Mia's mother chalks it up to her wandering personality, Mia knows something is wrong. She discovers a clue and a secret map that can help her find her Aunt, and she must convince her older brother Jake to assist her. Mia and Jake face the task of solving a mysterious series of riddles and traveling through a foreign country without telling their mother!<br /><br />This book was terrifically fun to read! It is a mystery, adventure, and a history book rolled into one. Mia is clever and persistent and her brother becomes a faithful assistant. Each riddle brings them to a different part of China and as a reader, I learned an incredible amount of history. What could have become a complicated story remained light and easy for children to read. The puzzles fall into place quickly and that helps keep the momentum going. The young detectives are very likable and while it's perhaps a far fetched idea that they could actually locate an ancient treasure, this story is exciting and fun. I think it's an excellent summer reading book for children who love following clues!Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-9385182165066172202017-05-29T19:17:00.001-04:002017-05-30T18:29:19.590-04:00It's Monday What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/29/2017This month I have read through a lot of books, but none that I have really felt compelled to blog about. I read <b>The Uncommoners</b>- a Harry Potter type of story about a hidden magical world where common objects become magical ones. Think a spatula that can turn someone invisible or a suitcase that can transport a person to the other side of town. I liked it a lot, and I think my students will like it as well. I also read <b>Unusual Chicken for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer</b>. It was a sweet story about Sophie Brown a city girl who inherits her uncle's farm and his group of very unusual chicken. She does her best to learn about them and keep them safe. It's a cute story with a hint of a mystery. I also just finished <b>The Warden's Daughter</b> by Jerry Spinelli. I couldn't get into it. I tried over and over but it wasn't for me. I've never been a fan of prison settings.<br />I don't usually write a full blog about a book unless I REALLY love it. The three books above were good, but not my favorites.<br /><img alt="The Uncommoners #1: The Crooked Sixpence by [Bell, Jennifer]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61csIA9cP%2BL.jpg" width="132" />&nbsp;<img alt="Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by [Jones, Kelly]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51oabY6fvIL.jpg" width="135" /><img alt="The Warden's Daughter by [Spinelli, Jerry]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41dszKIwSYL.jpg" width="134" /><br /><br /><br />But there was one book in my reading this week that I enjoyed very much.<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51We%2B0HtiUL._SX328_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br /><b>The Goldfish Boy </b>by Lisa Thompson is incredibly intriguing. It is a page turner for sure. This is yet another book about severe OCD (it seems to be a hot topic this year), but unlike the others I've read, the OCD is a side story to a great mystery. Middle school student Matthew Corbin sits in his window every day watching his neighbors. He waits and watches and writes about their comings and goings. He's nicknamed The Goldfish Boy because people only see him from behind the glass of his window. Matthew has severe OCD that prevents him from going outside or really having any human contact for fear of spreading germs. When he's forced to interact with other people, his skin crawls until he has a chance to wash in scalding hot water. Even latex gloves and being covered from head to toe stop working for him. He can't go to school, go out to play, or even enjoy a game of pool with his father. When a neighborhood child goes missing, Matthew is the last one to see him from his post in the window. He becomes a key witness in the investigation and his weeks of watching and spying lead to some intense theories and clues.<br /><br />As I was reading this story, Matthew's anxiety and fears radiated from the page. I felt his struggle as he clearly wants to interact with his family and neighbors but just can't bring himself to do it. In one part of the story, Matthew watches a young boy fall into a pond but his OCD prevents him from running outside to help. His frustration and desperation are heartbreaking as he screams from his window. The other neighbors think he's strange but don't really understand the depths of his illness. This is a great book to introduce this difficult condition.<br /><br />Besides his struggles, there are actually two mysteries here- the first is the missing toddler and the second is the incident that starts his OCD. I was surprised by both revelations! I think upper elementary students will enjoy this story as much as I did.<br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-38884255544003962432017-05-01T21:56:00.001-04:002017-05-14T21:18:40.695-04:00It's Monday What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/1/2017&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img alt="Family Game Night and Other Catastrophes by [Lambert, Mary E.]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Eml%2B7jTXL.jpg" width="133" /><br /><br />I've been reading YA books for years, and I thought I had read about every possible heavy topic such as divorce, drugs, grief, self harm, sickness and the like. I was pleasantly surprised to pick up&nbsp;<b> Family Game Night and Other Catastrophes</b> and read about a topic I haven't encountered yet in children's books- hoarding. Hoarding has many psychological facets, but this book by Mary Lambert focuses not on the hoarder, but on the effects for the children living in that house.<br /><br />Annabelle won't let anyone within five miles of her home for fear that her classmates will see chaos in her house. Over the years, her mother's "collection" has grown to include hundreds of newspapers, canned good, old toys, milk cartons, and a plethora of other useless items. Annabelle struggles with how to help her mom while trying to navigate middle school and the typical drama that goes along with that age. When her little sister Lindsay gets buried in old newspapers one morning and begins to have nightmares, Annabelle frustration grows. Her father leaves seemingly unable to cope with the mess and her grandmother comes to the rescue albeit not in the right way. Her methods of simply trying to throw the mess away makes things even worse.<br /><br />This book was very well written and Annabelle's voice as the narrator is perfect, This is a very adult topic, but Lambert writes it in a way that is perfectly relatable for a preteen. It's a very moving story about family dynamics. The love and loyalty between the family members is obvious and as much as Annabelle wants her mother to stop, she also protects her mom from their grandmom who isn't exactly warm and fuzzy. As a reader, I felt Annabelle's angst and her embarrassment along with her feelings of helplessness. Her desire to be as neat and clean as possible (actually obsessively) is of course her way of trying to control a terrible situation. This is a great read and stays on the fringe of the horrors of hoarding just enough to keep it perfect for pre-teens. I will absolutely recommend this book to my students.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br />&nbsp;<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img 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" /><br /><br />What a refreshing book for children! <b>The Kindness Club: Chloe on the Bright Side</b> by Courtney Sheinmel is a very cute story about Chloe, the new girl in school. The first day she gets "adopted" by the popular kids and is really excited until she sees their true colors. Led by the sneaky Monroe, the "It Girls" fit the bully stereotype perfectly. The girls in the It Girls Club have rules about what to wear, who to talk to, and even how to wear their hair.&nbsp;Chloe starts to feel uncomfortable by some of these new rules and is torn between finally being popular and doing what she knows is right. Luckily, she gets assigned a Science project with Lucy and Theo (two people she is not supposed to talk too) and they start The Kindess Club. They are out to prove that kindness benefits everyone.<br /><br />This book was very easy to read and had an AWESOME message for kids. It's ultimately about how kindness trumps bullies and has countless lessons and teachable moments throughout. I think this is a book that will benefit every reader. There is a side story about Chloe's parents getting divorced but even then Chloe tries her best to put the kindness test into action.<br /><br />&nbsp;I think it's a great story to read to a class or between parent and child. It's the first in a new series, and I'm looking forward to the others.<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-26360560028002828552017-04-06T19:07:00.001-04:002017-04-06T19:07:14.361-04:00Spring Update #MustReadin2017&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="176" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/LhglAP4gJI2uC1N_CzR8h1_cpXm2qn2zIyTNvxE5GLCIxPSTIziZb7wON8CXbwwqDfp6l29LlsapIdoq1YUTfRM7Lnm5EvJXuog4qPBkssp4SeQKoinAapd9MPJv34pBIhUE1y6S=s0-d-e1-ft#https://thereisabookforthat.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/mustreadin2017.jpg?w=482" width="200" /><br /><br /><br />Hello fellow readers! I put an ambitious 40 book on my Must Read list and I'm excited to say I've read 15 of them (even with a few extras thrown in)! I'm excited to have found some wonderful books and new authors but here is my dilemma- I started a couple of them that I just didn't like at all. I've really tried but I can't bring myself to finish them. Does that mean I'll never reach my goal? Does giving them the old college try count at all? I won't name the titles I didn't like because I don't want to cloud anyone's judgement, but for the most part, I have read some amazing stories. You can look through my blog to see most of them. I have a couple more to add to the list today.<br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51aBOFL2u5L._SX366_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="147" /><br /><br />I have been waiting for this book to be published ever since I started hearing about it last year. As the mother of an autistic child, I was curious as to how Elana Arnold would portray the main character in <b>A Boy Called Bat</b>. I'm thrilled to write that she hit it right on the nose! While we are never told that Bat is autistic, it's implied through his smaller classroom, need for routine and difficulty with social skills. Much of the story focuses on Bat's frustrations with people that don't necessarily like to do things the way he needs them to be done. Even his own father (his parents are divorced) doesn't understand that his son can only successfully function within a routine designed around what makes Bat comfortable. One night, Bat's mom, a veterinarian, brings home an abandoned skunk kit. There's something about the baby that calls to Bat and he begs to care for the skunk until it can be released into the wild. It will take a lot of convincing and a good bit of research on Bat's part to prove to his mom he can do it. With the help of a very supportive teacher, Bat sets out to show he's the best person for the job.<br /><br />I've read books about autism before, and I always found the main character to be struggling or sad, &nbsp;but Bat is simply- Bat. He is happy and content and while he certainly has quirks he struggles with, he has enough love in his life to help him get through uncomfortable situations. From beginning to end, readers watch his growth and improvement in difficult areas, especially socially. His love for the skunk and determination to give Thor the best possible care show a very loving side to child that might otherwise be accused of being unfeeling. Thor doesn't demand Bat talk to him or look at him like people do. He is totally accepting of Bat's warm snuggles and care. It's with this acceptance that Bat starts to venture out of his comfort zone. Bat will never be "typical" but there is hope at the end that he can bend just a bit more. This is an excellent book for younger students because of it's large font and short length. It's just enough of a glimpse into the world of someone with differences and how other students can be more accepting. Grades 3 and up and an EXCELLENT read aloud with class discussion.<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51TMZ1Eis7L._SX337_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="135" /><br /><br />In <b>A&nbsp;Rambler Steals Home</b> by Carter Higgins, 10 year old Derby is a rambler. She and her brother and father spend the year traveling to different locations in their RV and setting up their food cart for business. Hot chocolate at a christmas tree farm, apple cider and pie at a pumpkin patch and finally, Derby's favorite, a burger and fry stand at the Rockskipper's baseball field in VA. Every summer when Derby's family returns, she reconnects with the townspeople who have become her family over the years. When they pull into town this time, something is different- someone is missing and Derby does her best to find a way to help and heal her closest friends.<br /><br />Told though Derby's eyes, this is a very sweet, easy to read story. It's perfect for a baseball lover as the sport is a HUGE part of all of Derby's interactions. I really enjoyed how &nbsp;the townspeople's lives revolve around their favorite team. As I was reading, I felt like I was a part of the lazy hot summer days by the creek eating apple pie and &nbsp;waiting for the Main Street parade to begin- small town life at its best. Her father Garland does his best to make up for their absent mother and the community fills in the rest of the gaps. Like any girl her age, Derby starts to grow and wonder about her life, friends and missing mother. She is sassy, funny and a great narrator sharing her life among a colorful cast of characters. 3rd grade and up.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-10599133163735135502017-03-27T21:32:00.003-04:002017-03-27T21:32:34.357-04:00It's Monday What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 3/27/2017&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7tmQwi10wSA/VqUIvYFW-9I/AAAAAAAAAos/fkbtHTA6NB8/s200/IMWAYR.png" /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="Time Stoppers by [Jones, Carrie]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51kLMr9LNJL.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br />I'm giving fantasy a try! Not typically my favorite, but my students love it, so I have to try and embrace it. This week I read<b> Time Stoppers</b> by Carrie Jones.<br /><br />Annie Nobody is exactly as her name describes- a nobody. She is bounced from one horrible foster home to the next. She has no friends or family and desperately seeks to be loved. Unlike Annie, Jamie Alexander DOES have a family, but they treat him terribly. He has threadbare clothing, barely enough to eat and often has the sneaking suspicion that his family doesn't quite love him the way they should. Luckily for both of these children, it's quickly revealed that they are indeed in the wrong places and they were both born to do great things like save the world! They were stolen from the lives they were meant to live and with the help of a brave dwarf named Eva, they are returned to the magical town of Aurora. There they discover a new world of fantastic creatures (ghosts, dwarves, elves, wizards etc..) and Annie and Jamie are cherished and loved as they have always wished.<br />As Aurora is attacked, they, along with some new friends, must bravely fight the forces of evil and learn to navigate a magical new world.<br /><br />As I always write- I'm not a fantasy lover, so it takes a pretty special book to hold my interest. From the first chapters I was invested in Annie and Jamie's sad stories, and I rooted for them to find a place where they belonged. There is a good bit a humor in this book, and I enjoyed being introduced to a colorful cast of fantastic characters. It was satisfying to read both of the main characters evolution from scared children to brave heroes.<br /><br />I think young fantasy lovers will enjoy this because the story moved quickly and it was easy to read. My only criticism would be that I never found out who or what stole Annie when she was a baby. I was hoping for a resolution to that lingering question but perhaps it will be answered in the sequel!<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img alt="Siren Sisters by [Langer, Dana]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Z693FUWSL.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br /><b>Siren Sisters</b> by Dana Langer is a really neat story. Sirens seem to be the new craze replacing vampires and zombies. They are fascinating creatures, and I'm excited that there is middle grade novel exploring the myth.<br /><br />Lolly is a twelve year old girl with three gorgeous sisters. Like typical siblings, they go to school, work in the family diner and care for each other when they aren't doing the bidding of the Sea Witch and using their voices to crash boats into the shore. That's right- they are SIRENS! Lolly (against her will) is set to become a siren and join her sisters on her thirteenth birthday but she fights fiercely against the magic that would make it so. She simply can't understand how her sisters could destroy ships and risk lives. Why would they agree to become sirens? To make matters worse, one of the head townsmen, discovers the sisters' magic and makes it his personal mission to destroy them. Lolly and her best friend Jason have to rescue her sisters and break the siren curse before Lolly's transformation.<br /><br />This story is really interesting. The back story and history of the Sea Witch and sirens woven into the story is engaging. Aside from the magic, Lolly's evolving friendship with Jason is sweet and very typical of a twelve year old girl. It's hard enough for her to be a pre-teen, but scales growing on her feet when all she wants to do is wear sandals to the school dance is the worst!<br />&nbsp;As she and Jason scramble to rescue the sisters, a secret is revealed that I NEVER SAW COMING! It's very unique and proves that love between siblings is a bond that can't be broken. Lolly is a likable and brave and a character that I think my students will enjoy getting to know.<br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-24042363352536893702017-03-06T20:51:00.002-05:002017-03-07T15:32:37.962-05:00It's Monday What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 3/6/2017<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7tmQwi10wSA/VqUIvYFW-9I/AAAAAAAAAos/fkbtHTA6NB8/s200/IMWAYR.png" /><br /><br />&nbsp;As I written many times before, I love finding books that I haven't heard a lot about out there in the library blogosphere . I always feel like I'm making a rare wonderful discovery! &nbsp;The two books I read this week haven't really been on my radar through any of the library feeds I follow, but they should be!<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51gpn5CditL._SX326_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="131" /><br /><br />&nbsp;A couple of years ago I read <b>Please Ignore Vera Dietz </b>and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've been following Amy Sarig King ever since. She didn't disappoint with <b>Me and Marvin Gardens</b>. It was a refreshingly original plot and I think boys will really be fond of it. It's the story of an &nbsp;11- year- old boy named Obe who lives on his family farm in Pennsylvania. Years ago, his family owned thousands of acres of land but because of a mistake his grandfather made, the land had to be sold and Obe's family has only one small patch left. &nbsp;Obe fiercely protects this patch from the pollution that the new housing developments are bringing to his precious creek. One day while patrolling, he finds a creature that he can't identify (probably because it's the only one of its kind). It's part boar, part dog and part scaly, slimy mess! To top it off, this strange new animal ONLY eats plastic. Obe names his new lovable pet Marvin Gardens (after his father's obsession with Monopoly) and has to find a way to keep the animal safe from neighborhood bullies and others who might try to take Marvin away. Unfortunately for Obe, Marvin's "droppings" become toxic waste and the entire development becomes curious about what's leaving the mess behind. Out of options, Obe turns to his favorite Science teacher for help as to how to protect his land and Marvin.<br /><br />This story reminded me a little of<b> Hoot</b>&nbsp;by Carl Hiassen with its strong focus on protecting the environment, but I think it's easier for kids to read than <b>Hoot </b>. Along with environmental themes, this book has a strong focus on staying true to oneself and not giving in to peer pressure. Obe is a very kind and conscientious boy who finds he's not "cool" enough to hang around the other boys in his grade and in the end, finds true friendship where he least expects it.<br />There were many earth friendly lessons and also quite a bit of information about the many environmental dangers in today's world, so this would be a fantastic read aloud around Earth Day!<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51P2pG-jQuL._SX328_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br /><br />Fairy tale loving young ladies will really like <b>If the Magic Fits</b> by Susan Maupin Schmid. I believe this is her first book, and I know it's the start of a new series.<br />Darling Dimple has spent her entire life in the castle and when she comes of age she gets her job assignment- Under Scrubber (yup, she scrubs the pots). It's not the worst job, but it keeps her from her true dream of becoming Princess Mariposa's best friend. One day her dream (sort of) comes true and she gets promoted upstairs to Under-Presser. Even though Darling must get through mountains of sheets and handkerchiefs that need pressing, she is able to explore and &nbsp;finds her way into a magic closet full of 100 beautiful gowns. Unable to resist the temptation, she tries on number 11 and discovers that each dress has the power to disguise her as someone else in the castle. This come in handy as a mystery begins to unfold and Darling is the only one who can save the day. She must be careful as she faces an unknown evil villain, magical stone dragons, and a horrible roommate bent on making Darling's life horrible!<br /><br />A little slow in the beginning, but once Darling sets foot into the magical closet, the story becomes a wonderful adventure. This book has magic dresses, friendly mice, an enchanted canary and all sorts of other fantastic elements. Also, Darling is a fabulous heroine! She dreams big and doesn't let her station in life define her. She has an incredible imagination, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. I think girls from 3rd grade and up will really enjoy this.<br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-56151021359476073802017-02-20T21:39:00.003-05:002017-02-20T21:43:36.787-05:00It's Monday What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 2/20/17&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7tmQwi10wSA/VqUIvYFW-9I/AAAAAAAAAos/fkbtHTA6NB8/s200/IMWAYR.png" /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51NeAc4hhWL._SX334_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="134" /><br /><br />I always get really excited when I find a new beginner chapter book series- especially a series for boys! Project Droid&nbsp;by Nancy Krulik and Amanda Burwasser is sure to be a hit. Krulik is the author of <b>George Brown, Katie Kazoo</b>, and <b>Magic Bone</b>, so she is pretty much an expert in this genre.<br /><br /><b>Science No Fair!</b> is the story of Logan Applebaum and his new "cousin" Java who just happens to be a robot. Logan's mom is an inventor, and her latest experiment is to try and design a robot that can pass for a real boy. In this first book of the series, Logan thinks a robot friend will give him an advantage in the school Science Fair, but the minute Java gets to school things start to go hilariously wrong. Java reminds me of Amelia Bedelia. He takes everything literally like "take your seat" and &nbsp;"butterflies in your stomach" with the latter resulting in him shaking Logan upside down to remove the butterflies. The Science Fair doesn't go quite as planned, but it's all very entertaining.<br /><br />So far there are three Project Droid books, and they have been a huge hit in my library. It's also nice to have books to offer budding engineers!<br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41sxBbfMmGL._SX334_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="134" /><br /><br />This novel is a "new to me book" published in 2011. It's one of those that has been on my list to read for a while, but it always got pushed aside for newer books. Luckily, I saw it in the used book store this weekend and grabbed it. I'm SO HAPPY I did because it's wonderful.<br /><br /><b>Umbrella Summer</b> by Lisa Graff tells the story of 10 year old Annie Richards who is a little different than other kids her age. Annie's older brother died in a freak accident and as a result, she is determined to remain as safe as possible. To say she is overly cautious is an understatement. She wears band-aids over every scratch (in case of infection), ace bandages around her ankles (in case of a sprain), and full padding when she rides her bike (that she won't ride down hill). This is all BEFORE Annie gets her hands on a garage sale book about diseases and begins to wonder if she has a variety of rare illnesses. Of course this is all Annie's way of dealing with her grief. Her parents are struggling themselves so Annie has to find her own way to heal. Luckily for her, a friendly new neighbor teaches her to "put down her umbrella and look at the sun once again."<br /><br />This story could have easily been a little maudlin, but charming Annie is very endearing. She is funny and her inner dialog throughout the story is quite entertaining. Her list of ailments is ridiculous, but it's all tied to her very real pain. &nbsp;I think this is an excellent book for any child dealing with loss as Annie learns that life does indeed go on after sadness. Everyone can certainly use a lesson on embracing the sunshine in his or her life. <br /><br />&nbsp;I have a love hate relationship with Lisa Graff. I find some of her books to be incredible (like this one) and some not so much (Tangle of Knots). I will continue to read her books with the hope it will be one I like. :)<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51eez-qSbKL._SX364_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="146" /><br /><br />I don't often write about picture books, but I recently read <b>A Bear and the Piano</b> to my 1st grade class and they actually started clapping as soon it was over- CLAPPING!<br /><br />This book, by David Litchfield, is about a bear who finds a piano in the woods and teaches himself to play. His dream is to become a famous musician, so he practices all day, every day. He eventually gets discovered by some human children who convince him to move to the big city to pursue his dream. The bear becomes the most famous musician of all time, but after years of success, longs to see his woodland friends again. When bear arrives home to the forest, his first piano seems to be missing. What actually happened to it is the part that had us all clapping with happiness!<br /><br />This is VERY sweet story about following dreams and preserving special friendships.<br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-68835504740808024302017-02-06T20:17:00.000-05:002017-02-06T20:35:05.088-05:00It's Monday What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 2/6/17&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7tmQwi10wSA/VqUIvYFW-9I/AAAAAAAAAos/fkbtHTA6NB8/s200/IMWAYR.png" /><br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="When Friendship Followed Me Home by [Griffin, Paul]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51qnjIXQiAL.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br />There have been many times I've cried during a sad movie or even a television show, but very rarely do I cry real tears while reading a book. &nbsp;That all changed as I read <b>When Friendship Followed Me Home</b> by Paul Griffin.<br /><br />&nbsp;Ben Coffin is a twelve- year- old boy who has had significant struggles throughout his life. &nbsp;He's been in and out of foster care and often prefers spending time getting lost in his favorite books rather than being disappointed by the real world. As the story starts, his life seems to be turning around and he's finally starting to feel settled in a new home. While he still struggles to make friends, things begin to look better when he finds and adopts a lovable stray dog. This happy, mouth licking puppy that Ben names Flip, brings a smile to everyone he meets. People can't resist Ben's dog and through Flip, Ben tries things out of his comfort zone and gains confidence. One of his newest friends is Halley, the librarians daughter, and it's through his friendship with her and Flip that Ben begins to flourish and find true happiness. When tragedy strikes Ben's life yet again, it's his close bond with Flip that keeps him from falling apart.<br /><br />&nbsp;I wanted to reach inside this book and scoop up Ben and give him the life he's always wanted. He is a sweet, compassionate, smart, and kind young man. No matter what life has thrown at him, he doesn't become mean or bitter. He always sees the good in everyone and is a much nicer person than I would be given his same circumstances. As the book goes on, Ben has to deal with some pretty difficult hurdles. Death, abuse, cancer and homelessness are just a few of the serious issues tackled in this book. &nbsp;I think what made me cry is that he is a good boy who just can't catch a break, and I felt so deeply for him. I was constantly rooting for him to have the life he deserved. It's a pretty talented author that can make a reader so invested in their character. While there are many awful things that happen to Ben, the author spreads it out over the course of the story so it's not horribly bleak. Griffin is also careful to keep the focus on Ben's positive attitude so the awful things that happen to him remain totally appropriate for young readers. Nothing is discussed in such detail that it would be too much for a 4th or 5th grade student. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img alt="The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse by [Farrey, Brian]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51rgUl2sEVL.jpg" width="133" /><br />I'll admit, I didn't have high expectations for this story. <b>The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse</b> was sent free of charge along with my latest Scholastic order. I had never heard of it or the author Brian Farrey, but lately I've been surprised by obscure books. This one is no exception.<br /><br />Princess Jeniah is twelve years old and about to become the queen of her land. Before her mother falls into a coma from illness, she begs Jeniah to heed a serious warning. Any leader who enters the kingdom's Carse (a mysterious forest/bog) will bring ruin to the land that has been happy and prosperous for hundreds of years. As far as the princess knows, no monarch has ever entered the Carse, and it's secret becomes too much for her to resist. Across the kingdom, a young recently orphaned village girl, Aon, also wonders about the secret of the Carse. Something about the strange patch of land brings Aon comfort. Unlike the princess, Aon has ventured into the mystical forest and when Jeniah discovers this, she begs Aon to help her solve the mystery of what is deep in the heart of the Carse. The truths Aon uncovers turn Jeniah's entire world upside down.<br /><br />This book started a little slow but I'm glad I stuck with it. The mystery is really original!!! I don't want to give away too much, but a kingdom where everyone is happy and blessed seems a little too good to be true- and it is. Jeniah has to make some difficult decisions about loyalty and friendship. The characters are brave and kids will relate to them.<br />This is a fantasy/fairy tale book that will appeal to all students that enjoy this genre. It was easy to read and has a cliffhanger that left me in suspense. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-61885293745009249402017-01-30T20:52:00.001-05:002017-01-30T20:52:52.425-05:00It's Monday What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 1/30/17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7tmQwi10wSA/VqUIvYFW-9I/AAAAAAAAAos/fkbtHTA6NB8/s1600/IMWAYR.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7tmQwi10wSA/VqUIvYFW-9I/AAAAAAAAAos/fkbtHTA6NB8/s200/IMWAYR.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I've strayed from my Must Read in 2017 list already! I can't help it- I see a shiny new book on the library shelf and I HAVE to read it. What I like about today's blog post is that I had never heard of these titles before I read them. I think I might have found some new favorite authors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51RaLeZwyvL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="133" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I subscribe to A LOT of different library blogs and none of them have even mentioned this book. I feel like Christopher Columbus discovering a hidden gem. This one will be an IMMEDIATE addition to my library.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At first I thought <b>The Secret of Goldenrod</b> by Jane O'Reilly was going to be a scary book. &nbsp;Creepy house on the cover, the word "secret" in the title, and a porcelain doll that comes to life (there is nothing creepier). It has all the makings of a frightening ghost story, but it's not spooky in the least. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Trina and her father move from town to town fixing up old houses. When they arrive at Goldenrod, she has to start over AGAIN in a new house, new town, and new school. The difference this time is that everyone swears Goldenrod is haunted. &nbsp;It's hard enough to make friends without living in a supposed haunted house that's rumored to have cast a curse on the town. Trina soon finds a secret room with a doll inside that is at least 100 years old. Imagine her surprise when the doll suddenly begins to talk. Augustine, the doll, helps Trina discover the true secrets of Goldenrod. Can Trina prove that Goldenrod isn't haunted the way people think it is and fix the fractured town?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found this book to be a really unique take on a haunted house. It is haunted- just not the way I thought it was. The house has a tragic history, but instead of being dark and scary, O'Reilly keeps it magical and fun. Before this book, everything I ever read involving a talking doll was terrifying, but Augustine isn't what I first imagined. What little girl doesn't wish for her favorite doll to start talking? I've been ruined by horror movies and forgot that. As for Trina, like many middle grade book characters, she struggles to fit in with her peers. She's confused about her absent mother, doesn't want to be babied by her father, and is desperate to stay in one place. It's easy to read and a definite page turner. Great for a child that thinks they want a scary book (but deep down they aren't ready). &nbsp;LOVED IT!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51VEMCs81-L._SX320_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="129" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Anyone But Ivy Pocket</b> by Caleb Krisp isn't a new series, but it's new to me. I found it just in time as the third book is due this Spring.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ivy Pocket is a twelve year old orphaned maid who finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery ghost story. No matter what she does, Ivy makes one mistake after another, but she would never admit to anything being her fault. She is kooky and unfiltered, and if you ask her, the smartest, most talented, prettiest girl in the room. The story starts with her dunking her employer's head in a bowl of &nbsp;punch. Of course it isn't Ivy's fault that her employer has "brain fever" (according to Ivy of course). Fired and penniless, Ivy accepts a deal from a rich Duchess to deliver a cursed necklace to the granddaughter of an old friend. Ivy embarks on a dangerous adventure that brings death and villainous characters her way. The magical properties and mystery of the necklace bring catastrophe into Ivy's life, but her ridiculously inflated ego keeps her from understanding just how dangerous her situation is.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think that it will take a mature reader to truly understand Ivy. She is horribly rude with no filter but hilarious at the same time. She doesn't take the blame for anything and I still can't quite decide if she's clueless or brilliant. She invents fanciful stories about her past and her parents that I know aren't true, but I wish they were for her sake. The mystery is very imaginative and kept me reading to the very end. I'm torn on the ages for which I would recommend this because it's dark- think Coraline and Lemony Snicket. It's that Victorian Gothic kind of dark. There are old legends and ghosts and some evil characters in this story. &nbsp;I think fans of scary books would like it, but be careful of readers who frighten easily.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img alt="I am Helen Keller (Ordinary People Change the World) by [Meltzer, Brad]" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61G7carznoL._SX260_.jpg" /><img alt="I am Jane Goodall (Ordinary People Change the World) by [Meltzer, Brad]" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61IY8GlHlwL._SX260_.jpg" /><img alt="I am Martin Luther King, Jr. (Ordinary People Change the World) by [Meltzer, Brad]" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61r7VIe%2BcrL._SX260_.jpg" /><img alt="I am Jackie Robinson (Ordinary People Change the World) by [Meltzer, Brad]" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61%2B-R5BUp4L._SX260_.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img alt="Related image" src="https://coquette.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451c76a69e201b8d224db42970c-pi" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is often difficult to find biographies for very young students. The Who Was/ Who is series is very popular, but I wanted something that even younger students would enjoy. I wanted something quick and full of pictures. More specifically, I was looking for a biography that I could read aloud in a 15 minute time frame. I found all of that in the series <b>Ordinary People Who Change The World</b> by Brad Meltzer. The illustrations are fun and colorful, and it looks like a graphic novel (which is very appealing to young kids). Each of the books, there are 12 so far, tells the inspiring story of people whose dreams change the world. &nbsp;Even if students can't read all of the words, they can gather enough of the story from the illustrations to understand what's happening. They are easy to read and very inspiring.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I HIGHLY recommend this series for grades K and up. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-35949518822178194572017-01-16T21:02:00.003-05:002017-01-16T21:02:56.809-05:00It's Monday What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 1/16/17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7tmQwi10wSA/VqUIvYFW-9I/AAAAAAAAAos/fkbtHTA6NB8/s1600/IMWAYR.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7tmQwi10wSA/VqUIvYFW-9I/AAAAAAAAAos/fkbtHTA6NB8/s200/IMWAYR.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm three books into my goal of 40! I enjoyed all three of these and it wasn't until I finished them that I realized all of the books have middle school boys as the main character.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61%2BKq9P3aML._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>In The last Boy at St. Edith's</b> by Lee Malone, Jeremy Miner attends St. Edith's Catholic School. It's a great school in a good neighborhood, and he is lucky that he gets to attend. As the title suggests, there's one slight problem- Jeremy is the only boy. There used to be more but they have dropped out one by one until only Jeremy remains. He can't transfer because he is getting free tuition (his mom works there), so he is stuck! The girls treat Jeremy like he's one of them, and no one understands how hard it is not to have any male friends or influences. That leaves him, in his mind, with one option- he has to get expelled! Jeremy and his friend Claudia begin a series of pranks that they are sure will get him removed from school. As with most practical jokes, things don't exactly go as planned and when they begin to backfire, Jeremy must decide how far he will go. Eventually Jeremy realizes that even without other boys, his friends, school, and teachers are pretty great, but is it too late?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This book was really clever and funny and the plot was original. Surprisingly, the female author did a fabulous job of capturing the angst a lonely 7th grade boy must be feeling in that situation. The pranks Jeremy pulls were funny- until they weren't. The things that went wrong made me cringe and when he got in over his head, I was screaming at the page for him to stop and confess! Also, I liked watching him grow up a little and realize what's really important in his life. His friendships with the girls are sweet and deeper than he initially thinks. I believe older boys and girls (5th and up) will enjoy this story.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/511PsKsm9QL._SX347_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="139" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like the other books I read this week,<b> All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook</b> by Leslie Connor, is a refreshing original story. How many synonyms can I find for the word LOVE to describe how I feel about this book?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perry is like any other middle school student in many ways. He loves his Mom, his friends from home, and his very best school friend, Zoey. What sets him apart from others his age is that his home is Blue River Prison, and he has lived there all of his life. When Perry was born, his mom (an inmate) found a way for him to stay with her. He grew up running free around the prison, playing in the laundry baskets, running around the track with the other inmates, and even celebrating his birthdays in funny ways. The inmates are his protectors and closest friends. He leaves the prison for school and various activities but each night comes home to Blue River for dinner and time with his family. Perry is incredibly happy and content. One day, an overzealous District Attorney learns about Perry and removes him from the only home he's ever known. Perry is determined to find a way back to the prison and in doing so, he learns how most of the inmates came to be at Blue River- even his own mother. The answers he uncovers are surprising and teach him lessons about life and second chances.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Despite roadblocks and a very unconventional upbringing, Perry thrives in the prison. He is happy and well cared for. Just because his life is different, doesn't mean it's wrong. Blue River is a co-ed minimum security prison that seems more like a camp- not scary for readers at all. There are so many lessons in this book about friendship, mistakes, and being unique. Perry is a lovable character along with his mother, Big Ed, the Warden and the other colorful inmates. It's funny and suspenseful as we wait to see if Perry succeeds in his mission. This book radiates hope and left me feeling warm and fuzzy! I think it's geared more towards an advanced reader because it's long and detailed but they won't be sorry they gave it a chance.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="Ms. Bixby's Last Day by [Anderson, John David]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51s-U9CF5tL.jpg" width="132" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Break out the tissues for this one! John David Anderson's <b>Ms. Bixby's Last Day</b> is the story of three boys determined to give their favorite teacher (who is sick) one perfect day. Ms. Bixby, with a pink streak in her hair, is the kind of teacher who makes learning fun. She makes school interesting and earns the respect of &nbsp;her middle school students. She clearly cares about them and they feel the same way about her. As the story starts, she reveals she is ill and has to leave school before the end of the year. She doesn't even get to stay for her planned goodbye party. Topher, Steve and Brand decide that Ms. Bixby deserves a perfect last day, and they set out to make it happen. Of course as 12-year-olds, it's difficult for them to get to her with all the supplies they need for the last day. They have to navigate the city bus route, an expensive bakery, a thief, and a book seller who speaks in riddles to make it to Ms. Bixby.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What starts as a story about Ms. Bixby's leaving actually revels itself to be more about the three boys in her class and how she has affected their lives. Each of the boys has an unexpected back story and Ms. Bixby has influenced them in an inspiring and wonderful way. Their determination to get to her is endearing and the plan they have for her perfect day is incredibly touching. While skipping school is NOT ok, their earnest reasons for doing so makes it forgivable. This is a beautiful book about the positive relationships teachers can have with their students, and it reminds me how special it is to be a teacher. Because it deals with illness and some other heavy topics, a reader who is a little more mature might like it better. I highly recommend this one.&nbsp;</div>Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-6942990695325896112017-01-01T10:01:00.001-05:002017-01-05T15:03:37.673-05:00#MustReadin2017<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="176" src="https://thereisabookforthat.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/mustreadin2017.jpg?w=700&amp;h=" width="200" /><br /><br />There are a few titles on this list that I've been trying to get to for a while, and some that have yet to be published. I'm going for an even 40 this year. I'm excited for all of these picks and I have my first pile ready to go next to my favorite reading spot. My goal is to read them all but I get sidetracked by new authors and new books all the time (not to mention my favorite grown-up books). Fingers crossed!<br /><br /><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/511PsKsm9QL._SX347_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="139" /><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61gjlfEXo5L._SX337_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="135" /><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51VEMCs81-L._SX320_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="129" /><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51rTkSoUrEL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61%2BKq9P3aML._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41Nkvuf6QtL._SX333_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="134" /><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515kXyuxlSL._SX339_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="136" /><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41e8gGQ0pVL._SX350_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="141" /><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51aL0LcOQAL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Metropolitans by [Goodman, Carol]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/6137lGJPIRL.jpg" width="132" /><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51m6D%2BHg2VL._SX318_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51m6D%2BHg2VL._SX318_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="128" /></a><img alt="14 Hollow Road by [Bishop, Jenn]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Kw%2BZkmE7L.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="Tumble &amp; Blue by [Beasley, Cassie]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515qyw%2BF2zL.jpg" width="155" /><img alt="Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race (Mr. Lemoncello's Library #3)" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1482844108l/31226744.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="A Rambler Steals Home by [Higgins, Carter]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51G%2BzQfbzJL.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="Rise of the Earth Dragon: A Branches Book (Dragon Masters #1) by [West, Tracey]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51NsY3o-fyL.jpg" width="137" /><img alt="Under Locker and Key (MAX) by [Hymas, Allison K.]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51aIat5K5sL.jpg" width="134" /><img alt="The Castle in the Mist by [Ephron, Amy]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51-LrpR0XvL.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Forever, or a Long, Long Time by [Carter, Caela]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51aA9E33xnL.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Science No Fair!: Project Droid #1 by [Krulik, Nancy, Burwasser, Amanda]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Fq5eeIwML.jpg" width="134" /><img alt="If the Magic Fits (100 Dresses) by [Schmid, Susan Maupin]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51t3MIsYNWL.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Yours Truly (A Pumpkin Falls Mystery) by [Frederick, Heather Vogel]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51XFd5iuYhL.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Great Treehouse War by [Graff, Lisa]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/5138pjmrcAL.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Goldfish Boy by [Thompson, Lisa]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51UIpHfLL9L.jpg" width="130" /><img alt="Hideout by [Key, Watt]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51A2JlX3FEL.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="The Mighty Odds (The Odds Series #1) by [Ignatow, Amy]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51cujt1WpsL.jpg" width="148" /><img alt="Sci-Fi Junior High by [Seegert, Scott, Martin, John]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51pp5Y%2BtXuL.jpg" width="138" /><img alt="Restart by [Korman, Gordon]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51busCN8oIL.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Family Game Night and Other Catastrophes by [Lambert, Mary E.]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Eml%2B7jTXL.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="Marion Takes a Break (The Critter Club Book 4) by [Barkley, Callie]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51SXX3IPWtL.jpg" width="150" /><img alt="Captain Awesome to the Rescue! by [Kirby, Stan]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61fP9VNye0L.jpg" width="148" /><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61bQQCyqbAL._SX328_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/414k-C8929L._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="See You in the Cosmos by [Cheng, Jack]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41wK0-5%2BwSL.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="Cloud and Wallfish by [Nesbet, Anne]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41bYbFfIOjL.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Ms. Bixby's Last Day by [Anderson, John David]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51s-U9CF5tL.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Girl Who Drank the Moon by [Barnhill, Kelly]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51GpSSHLAcL.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story by [Baskin, Nora Raleigh]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41vmY-cf8XL.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="Counting Thyme by [Conklin, Melanie]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/511fZHWJo5L.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="Some Kind of Happiness by [Legrand, Claire]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51F328DBdqL.jpg" width="132" />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-79804183231769875482016-12-12T21:34:00.001-05:002016-12-12T21:41:34.018-05:00It's Monday What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 12/12/16&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7tmQwi10wSA/VqUIvYFW-9I/AAAAAAAAAos/fkbtHTA6NB8/s200/IMWAYR.png" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img alt="The Littlest Bigfoot by [Weiner, Jennifer]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51u6UUUhisL.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Jennifer Weiner is one of my favorite adult authors, so I was excited to read her first attempt at a children's book. I was not disappointed. Here's the funny thing about <b>The Littlest Bigfoot</b>- no matter how I try to describe it, the plot sounds crazy, but I promise it's fabulous. <br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Alice is a twelve-year-old girl who just doesn't fit in no matter where she is. Physically she is a big girl with crazy hair that can't be tamed. Her wealthy family pretty much ignores her existence even though she yearns for her mother's love and acceptance. Also, she has been to SEVEN different schools, but is always asked to leave because of her clumsiness, forgetfulness, or accident prone ways. As sweet as Alice is, she can't seem to find even one friend no matter how hard she tries. Her last hope is a new type of experimental school in the woods where kids are expected to learn outside of the box and find their inner strengths.<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Across the pond from the school is Millie whose life is very similar to Alice's. Lonely Millie doesn't fit in among her friends and neighbors and her family just doesn't "get" her. Millie's dream is to be a famous singer and travel the world, but her family won't even let her leave their village. O.K., now here is the crazy part- Millie is a BIGFOOT! Yes, a bigfoot, as in a yetti &nbsp;chewbacca looking kind of creature. Millie is obsessed with No- Furs (humans) and longs to get rid of her fur and be part of their world. Inevitably, Millie and Alice meet and become the kind of friends each girl has been longing for all of their lives.<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;For as strange as the premise might sound, Weiner has crafted the story in such a way that it is completely believable that Millie's tribe exists with their Etsy store and old Friends reruns to keep them entertained. Her descriptions of how they have cleverly managed to stay hidden for hundreds of years makes me wonder if the Yare might actually be out there somewhere. This book is fascinating and extremely entertaining, but at it's core it's simply a story of friendship and finding a place in the world without feeling like a misfit. I'm hoping I can convince my students to give a try because it is well worth it!<br /><br /><br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-5519829065357554222016-12-05T19:48:00.001-05:002016-12-05T20:45:54.243-05:00It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 12/5/2016<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="199" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7tmQwi10wSA/VqUIvYFW-9I/AAAAAAAAAos/fkbtHTA6NB8/s200/IMWAYR.png" width="200" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hello blog readers! Sorry it's been so long. I've been taking a graduate course that has been stealing all of my precious reading time but now I'm back! I've read a few new books that run the gamete of ages and I discovered a new non-fiction series that I'm CRAZY about.<br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41-Dn65NUDL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Finding Perfect</b> by Elly Swartz tells the story of a young girl's struggle with OCD. When we are first introduced to twelve-year-old Molly, we discover that her mother has left town indefinitely, and Molly is convinced that winning her school poetry slam will bring her family back together. Molly worries a lot about her family and she tries to keep everything as neat and perfect as she can in an effort to control her life. As time goes on, Molly's little "quirks" like lining up her pencils and keeping her things organized by color, soon morph into serious obsessive compulsive behavior. Soon Molly struggles to get through her days. She lines up her glass figurines with a ruler, washes her hands over and over, and if she doesn't keep counting by fours, she fears something will happen to her little brother, Soon Molly starts to melt down, and she loses all control. She must find a way to ask for help even though she's scared of what her family and friends will think of her.</div><div><br /></div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; If I ever wondered what it was like to spin out of control with OCD, this book answers that question. As Molly's illness progresses, I could feel her frustration and anxiety- so much so that I had to walk away from the book a few times. &nbsp;The writing is so powerful that I began to feel anxious while reading. Also, there were so many details, I had to read this book slowly and carefully to catch everything. Ms. Swartz did an excellent job of showing Molly's OCD progress little by little. Additionally, the role of supporting characters surrounding someone who has a mental illness is very important. Molly's friends, siblings, and father slowly start to realize that Molly's behavior is not typical,and they have to find a way to help her. Overall, this is a touching story about a young girl who realizes she's in trouble and her journey to get help and triumph.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/5121F2xZOFL._SX333_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="134" /></div><div><br /></div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;This is Kate Beasly's first book and like her sister, Cassie (<b>Circus Mirandus</b>) it's hard to believe this is her debut novel. I read<b> Gertie's Leap to Greatness</b> right afte<b>r Finding Perfect</b> and was surprised by the similar theme. I must have been in a mother's abandonment/ daughter trying to be perfect phase. Gertie's mother left when she was young, and she is convinced that if she can be the best fifth grader of all time, her mother will return. Everything seems to be lining up just right for her until Mary Sue Spivey moves to town and does everything just a little better than Gertie. Their teacher seems to favor her and even Gertie's best friends gravitate towards Mary Sue. Of course it doesn't hurt that Mary Sue's father is a famous Hollywood producer. Since only one person can be the best, Gertie must make it her mission to dethrone Mary Sue.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Gertie has gumption. That's the word I kept thinking about as I was reading about her. She is determined and funny and nothing can stop her plans once she sets her mind to it. I kept imagining her as a grown up Junie B. Jones. All of her antics come from a place of desperation and a pure heart. This story was fun and easy to read even though I felt badly for Gertie that she just couldn't seem to triumph over Mary Sue. As with most books set in the south, there is a colorful cast of supporting characters as fun as Gertie. There is an interesting side story about her father's work on an oil rig that will spark discussion about the environment if it's used as a class read aloud. Looking forward to more books from BOTH Beasly sisters!<br /><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/413lYFk14tL._SX342_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="137" /><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41FKHbu-GJL._SX344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="138" /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I've had these book on my list for a while, and now I am so angry I didn't read them earlier! These are AWESOME books- especially if you are a fan of heist movies. My son, a reluctant reader, enjoys movies like <b>Ocean's 11</b> and <b>Now You See Me</b>, so I knew these would be right up his alley. He is reading <b>Loot</b> right now and is really enjoying it.<br /><br /><b>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Loot</b>, by Jude Watson, &nbsp;is the first novel of the series and it starts with the death of Alfie McQinn, thief extraordinaire. Alfie's last words to his son &nbsp;March are a bit of a mystery that March and his friends will have to solve if they want to stay safe. March knows it will involve following in his father's footsteps to pull off a HUGE jewelry heist that no one, especially a group of kids, has done before.<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;I couldn't put this book down. It was like reading a movie script. With every page, the suspense grew. Reading how the complicated heist plans fell into place was exciting and satisfying. It was light and funny so it's perfect for a young age group. Even though it's technically about committing a crime, it is a highly entertaining caper.<br /><br /><b>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Sting </b>is the second in the series and just as wonderful. I highly recommend both books for boys or girls.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><img alt="Product Details" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51QPyWw3LuL._AC_US160_.jpg" /><img alt="Product Details" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/5115RrXuapL._AC_US160_.jpg" /><img alt="Product Details" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51VF2XCLERL._AC_US160_.jpg" /><img alt="Product Details" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51h5dKgAPuL._AC_US160_.jpg" /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I recently discovered this fantastic non-fiction series called <b>Brands We Know</b> by Sara Green.<br />There are currently 20 books in the series with more in the works. These books tell the history of some of the most recognizable brands in America with colorful pages and easy to read text. The 3rd- 5th grade students at my school are going nuts for them. They are interesting and extremely up-to-date.<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I've learned so much just glancing through them. The man who invented Nike originally sold them out of his car. Nerf was nothing more than a small orange ball for years, and Mario of Nintendo fame was at first called "jump man."<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I highly recommend purchasing the set for a classroom library, or if you have a non fiction reader at home that loves to learn new and interesting facts.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-1438744186244215172016-10-10T20:53:00.005-04:002016-10-10T20:53:59.398-04:00 It's Monday! What are you Reading? #IMWAYR 10/10/2016&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7tmQwi10wSA/VqUIvYFW-9I/AAAAAAAAAos/fkbtHTA6NB8/s1600/IMWAYR.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7tmQwi10wSA/VqUIvYFW-9I/AAAAAAAAAos/fkbtHTA6NB8/s320/IMWAYR.png" /></a><br /><br />Sorry it's been a little while.... back to school madness has finally calmed down. :)<br />I've read a few really neat books that I'd love to share.<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/5141frZcTHL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="133" /><br /><br /><b>Maxi's Secrets</b> by Lynn Plourde begins with eleven year old Timmy telling us that Maxi, a beloved pet dog, dies before the story ends. Like most "dead dog" books, Timmy assures us that his time with Maxi taught him more lessons than he can count.<br />Timmy is about to start a new middle school which would be fine except for the fact that he is the size of a first grader. Timmy gets called names, put inside lockers, and is often mistaken for an elementary school student. How does he deal with it? He comes home each day to the biggest, most loyal, sweetest dog named Maxi. Timmy can deal with all of his school problems by thinking about after school hugs and puppy breath, but he soon realizes that something is wrong with Maxi- the puppy is deaf. Surprisingly, it's Maxi's disability that helps Timmy to meet his neighbor, Abby, and to make some real friends.<br />Even though there are moments of sadness in this story, it is overall very inspiring and also funny. Timmy is able to find humor throughout his most difficult moments of being bullied for his size. His ability to laugh at himself makes him a very likable character. Maxi is his loyal friend who loves Timmy no matter what and it's through his adventures with Maxi that Timmy learns some life "secrets." Each chapter end with a little gem such as "it's possible to hear someone even if your ears don't work." I think this author does a great job of keeping this story light while writing about some tough times. Some stories about bullying are incredibly depressing and difficult to read but not this one. Plourde keeps her young audience in mind and it's all incredibly appropriate and at times even joyful. Grades 4+<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41X06adk7hL._SX314_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="126" /><br /><br /><b>Just My Luck</b> by Cammie McGovern was big surprise. I had never heard of it or read any reviews for it. I was shopping in a small independent book store when saw it and thought it looked sweet. I am so glad I picked it up. I LOVED it!<br />Benny Barrows is a fourth grade student who is still searching for a best friend and struggling to learn to ride a bike. His older brother George is autistic and can be a handful, and worst of all, his dad has a terrible accident at the beginning of the story and is struggling to recover. Benny feels like he is surrounded by bad luck all around him. His school begins a kindness reward program and Benny is convinced that if he does enough nice things, his luck will turn around.<br />Benny is an incredibly kind and caring character. He treats others with respect hoping to gain a "kindness reward" without ever realizing that he has a bigger heart than any character in this story. The way he cares for his brother George is a great example for young readers. Benny finds some surprising friendships along the way and unlocks an inner strength he didn't know he had. His serious talent for Lego stop motion movie making adds even more depth to a well developed character.<br />&nbsp;Like the author of <b>Maxi's Secret</b>, McGovern manages to take some tough topics and make them totally appropriate for younger readers. Recommended for ages 9+<br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51n80SUCyWL._SX425_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="170" /><br /><br /><b>Madeline Finn and the Library Dog</b> by Lisa Papp is another gem I found at the independent book store this weekend. Madeline Finn is having a difficult time learning to read. She really tries, but the words just run together on the page. She gets really nervous to read aloud and her confidence is waning because she is desperate to become a "Star Reader." Just when she is about to give up, &nbsp;Madeline Finn finds a program at the library where she can read to a lovable dog named Bonnie. Bonnie doesn't make her feel scared or nervous like some of her classmates and the dog's patience soon helps Madeline to get through her books a little faster each time she reads them.<br />This is an excellent book for younger students who might be struggling with reading. There are a lot of Madeline Finns out there who are feeling sad and frustrated, but with enough love, patience and practice, students can surprise themselves like she did! &nbsp;Ages 4-8Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-77884126264996582922016-09-05T16:45:00.004-04:002016-09-05T16:51:26.272-04:00 It's Monday! What are you Reading? #IMWAYR 9/5/19&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7tmQwi10wSA/VqUIvYFW-9I/AAAAAAAAAos/fkbtHTA6NB8/s320/IMWAYR.png" /><br /><br />It's a new school year and I am back to #IMWAYR! I have a new title to share and one that's "new to me."<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51rL3o0nWeL._SX338_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="136" /><br /><br />I have always been a big fan of Barbara O'Connor and was thrilled to hear she was releasing a new book. I picked it up this weekend and didn't put it down until it was finished. LOVE!!!!!!<br /><br />Eleven-year-old Charlie has been sent to stay with relatives in the Blue Ridge Mountains, or as Charlie calls it, a hillbilly town full of kids who eat squirrels. Her dad is in jail "being corrected" for fighting all the time, and her mom is struggling with depression. Feeling abandoned, Charlie is certain that she will hate every minute of her new situation and does her best to make her feelings clear to everyone she meets. Her Aunt Bertha and Uncle Gus are thrilled to have her with them and their neighbors, the Odoms, have a son that is sorely in need of a friend. Unfortunately, Charlie isn't as thrilled as everyone else. No matter how much the town and the people start to grow on her, all she wants to do is to go home to her mother. Her new friend, Howard Odom, does his best to help her control her famous temper, but Charlie has a lot of anger inside that keeps finding its way out through her fists. Charlie continues to feel out of place until one day when she finally catches the town's stray dog to make him her pet. As her love for her new dog Wishbone grows, so does her love for her new family and friends. When it's finally time to return home, Charlie has a big decision to make.<br /><br />This story has heart. Aunt Bertha and Uncle Gus just want to love the hurt right out of Charlie if only she will give them a chance. Sometimes it drove me crazy that she wasn't nicer to them, but Charlie felt as badly as I did. It is sweet and funny, and I especially liked all the ways Charlie knows how to make a wish- she has been making the same one every day for a year. 11:11 on the clock, eating pie a certain way, or wishing on a black horse while shaking her fist three times are just some of the silly traditions Charlie tries to make her wish come true. While the people of the town don't have much, it's clear they are full of love for her and do their best to make her feel safe and cherished. This is a story of friendship and finding your wish come true in unlikely places. It's easy to read and I think my students will enjoy it.<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="Crenshaw by [Applegate, Katherine]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51U1cJaReuL.jpg" width="136" /><br /><br />I'm a little late to read this one as it's been the talk of the book world for a while. <b>Crenshaw</b> is Katherine Applegate's first book since winning the Newbery Award for <b>The One and Only Ivan</b>. Get out your tissues for this one!<br /><br />Jackson is a ten-year-old boy who lives with his parents and younger sister. His father has MS and they have fallen on hard times. Rather than ask for help from charity, the family is struggling to make it on their own by selling their belongings and even spending time living in their minivan. His father pan handles on the corner and his mother works two jobs. Most days there is very little to eat but Jackson has grown used to being hungry. His parents try to be cheerful and make the best of the situation not ever acknowledging how difficult this kind of life is for a young boy. Enter Crenshaw. He is an outspoken, seven-foot-tall, talking imaginary cat that only appears when Jackson needs a friend the most. While the boy does his best to keep quiet, be a good boy, and go along with his parents plans (whatever they might be), Crenshaw teaches Jackson that it's important to speak up and share his feelings. Jackson's voice is important, and he doesn't have to carry the weight of his situation silently.<br /><br />This book was so moving. When Jackson described how little food they had to eat, and what it felt like to be smelly, I felt awful for complaining about silly things. This story is about a very serious topic but like <b>The One and Only Ivan</b>, there are moments of humor and inspiration. It's written in a way that makes it appropriate for young students and not too gut wrenching. Even though Crenshaw isn't technically real, his words of wisdom are important advice for all of us. This story is full of teachable moments, and it's an important book in this world of excess. I think this is a beautiful novel and deserves the many awards it's already won.<br /><br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-80004139072201596792016-08-12T16:38:00.002-04:002016-08-12T20:50:05.049-04:00And the Summer Reading Continues....As summer draws to a close, I realize I'm not even halfway through my book pile! I'd better get a move on. Meanwhile, these are some titles I read this week. I found some new favorites &nbsp;for sure.<br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61KzezqaU6L._SX338_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="136" /><br /><br /><b>Book Scavenger </b>by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman is great fun. Any fans of Mr. Lemoncello's Library will LOVE it. 12- year- old Emily's favorite pastime is to play "Book Scavenger." It's an online game where books are hidden all over the country and the players have to decipher clues to find them. Emily is a huge fan of the game's creator, Garrison Griswold, and is excited to learn that her family is moving close to his headquarters in San Fransisco. After an unfortunate series of events put Mr. Griswold in the hospital, Emily finds a book that she thinks might be the clue to starting his newest secret game. Of course there are others trying to get their hands on this mystery book, so Emily must race to find the clues and solve the puzzle. There is a great treasure awaiting the winner and Emily hopes to uncover it.<br /><br />This book could have easily been called "Book Adventure" because that's what it becomes. Forget Pokemon Go- Book Scavenger is tons of fun. &nbsp;Emily and her new friend James travel all over the city decoding ciphers and dodging the bad guys to get to the next clue. There are many references to famous books- especially Edgar Allen Poe books which is nice since most young readers probably don't know much about him. Also, one of the coolest features about this book is that the author has set up a REAL game of book scavenger (www.bookscavenger.com) where readers can hide and find copies of this book all over the country. As soon as I finish blogging, I'm going to check it out! This book is for anyone who likes solving puzzles. There is also a bit about new friendships and family dynamics. Overall a wonderful story. The next one in the series will be released soon and the adventure will continue.<br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img alt="Sunny Side Up by [Holm, Jennifer L.]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/512cdrp6rcL.jpg" width="137" /><br /><br /><b>Sunny Side Up</b> is written by veteran author Jennifer Holm (<b>The Fourteenth Goldfish</b>). It's a graphic novel about Sunny Lewin who arrives in Florida in 1976 to spend the summer with her grandfather. It sounds wonderful, but Sunny is stuck in a retirement community with her grandfather's really old friends who aren't exactly running to Disney World everyday. Luckily, Sunny meets Buzz the groundskeeper's son so she finally has a friend her own age. Buzz introduces Sunny to the world of comic books and superheroes, and she wonders if she can become a superhero to help fix a family secret- the secret that sent her to Florida in the first place.<br /><br />This will be a popular book in the library because graphic novels are easy and fun to read, and it also happens to be a good book. The seventies references are fun as the book flashes back and forth between the last two years. Sadly, reader's will see her once close family start to fall apart as her brother deals with a drug problem. Ultimately, that is why Sunny wishes she could have the power to fix all the things that are wrong back home. I've read a lot of books this summer about this topic that I don't think are appropriate for younger readers, but this one seems just about right. Holm doesn't delve too much into the brother's issues, but just enough so that we see the effects of drugs on a family. I would still only recommend it for ages 10+.<br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img alt="The Haunted Library #1 by [Butler, Dori Hillestad]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51X6jWlfWRL.jpg" width="134" /><br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4703055290784358034" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>What a cute series!!!! <b>The Haunted Library</b>&nbsp;by Dori Hillestad Butler is a perfect beginner chapter book for grades 1-3. It's the story of Kaz, a ghost boy, who accidentally gets blown away from his family by the wind and lands in the town library. There he meets Claire, a human girl who has the ability to see ghosts. Quickly, Kaz and Claire realize he isn't the only one haunting the library and they work together to find the identity of the mystery ghost.<br /><br />So far there are nine books in this charming series. It's not scary at all, but will satisfy young readers who think they want to read a ghost story.<br /><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="A Clatter of Jars by [Graff, Lisa]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51JQUg2w7yL.jpg" width="132" /><br /><br />As I started reading <b>A Clatter of Jars</b>, I thought,"This reminds me of <b>Tangle of Knots</b>." Well, no kidding because it's the sequel. (I don't think my brain is at full capacity in the summer). My problem is that I didn't like <b>Tangle of Knots.</b>&nbsp;I almost put this down right away, BUT I pushed through and I'm glad I did. In the first book we are introduced to the Talented Kids. This is a group of children that have a special talent. Some have smaller talents like knowing exactly what cake is someone's favorite or being able to talk to frogs, or pick any lock etc.. and some have the awesome ability to mimic any talent they encounter. In this book, all of these kids gather together at summer camp. Things quickly go awry when Lily realizes that someone is trying to make copies of their talents in order to sell them to Fair (talentless) people. Soon all of their Talents get mixed up, and Lily and her friends need to solve the mystery to set things right again.<br /><br />Some of Lisa Graff's books are my favorites ( <b>Umbrella Summer, The Thing About Georgie</b>), but something about this series just doesn't capture my interest. There are a lot of characters and many things to keep straight and it was all a bit confusing. After pushing through, I was interested to see how it all ended and there were some very funny moments. The premise of the story is really neat, but it just doesn't seem to flow together. I think it would be tough for younger students to read and understand. Some strong readers might really enjoy it so I will certainly put it on the shelf.<br /><br />I look forward to this author's next books, just not anymore in this series.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703055290784358034.post-34378837254919256122016-07-27T15:41:00.000-04:002016-07-27T20:18:23.001-04:00Summer Reading Part 2: The New Classics&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; As teachers, we all love to read the "oldie but goodie" books to our students. <b>Caps for Sale, A Wrinkle in Time, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory </b>etc.. These are tried and true tales that children love. This week I read a few stories that I think will &nbsp;join the ranks of these books. These titles, I hope, will become a staple of my collection and I'm guessing teachers will read them to their classes for years to come.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51t6WWajQtL._SX334_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51t6WWajQtL._SX334_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>The Wild Robot</b> by Peter Brown is fabulous! I have encountered so many fellow readers this summer who have gushed about this book. The story is completely original. Fresh off the assembly line, Roz, a robot, crashes onto a deserted island. Not knowing how she got there or that she doesn't belong, Roz does everything she can to survive the wilderness and adapt to her surroundings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At first the animals run away from her in fear, but they slowly learn that she is good and kind and simply wants to help them however she can.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh Roz! She is so sweet and nice that I kept forgetting she was a robot. Of course metal and the natural elements of the island don't really mix so she often finds herself in a pickle, but she keep trying. She analyzes her surroundings and determines the best course. Even though she isn't technically alive, she experiences love, friendship, and even fear. It is very well written and easy to read. I think both students and teachers will love it. Grades 3 and up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51H1vdOUv6L._SX324_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51H1vdOUv6L._SX324_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If ever a book deserved a Newbery Honor Award, it is this one. The <b>War that Saved My Life</b> by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is an incredible story that tells the tale of two children during WWII who struggle through less than ideal circumstances. Ada is 9 years old and suffers from a club foot. Because of her deformity, her cruel mother locks her away with no crutches, no education, no friends, barely any food and certainly no love or comfort. Ada have never been outdoors, never felt the sun, never experienced Christmas and doesn't even know when her birthday is. As the war begins, Ada and her little brother escape to the country where children are being sent to keep them safe (Ada has to sneak out and crawl to the train station). They are placed with a childless woman, Susan, who despite her initial protests, grows to love the kids and provides a wonderful home.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While Ada and Jamie's life prior to Susan is horribly sad, I never felt depressed while reading because Ada has such a strong spirit. Reading about how much even the smallest gift or kindness means to Ada I am reminded over and over how horrible her mother was. Regardless, Ada is determined to find a happy life. She can be difficult and doesn't trust Susan at first, but she SLOWLY begins to come around and appreciate this new chance at happiness. She is a spitfire who yearns to ride horses and run like other children. Susan does everything she can to help Ada's dreams finally come true while navigating air raid drills and preparations for the war. I read a description of this book that is perfect- "Ada's journey is both heartbreaking and triumphant." Again, for as sad as this book could be, the tone didn't feel that way. It was interesting, hopeful, and healing. I REALLY liked this book and I think I am going to read it aloud to my students come September.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="Raymie Nightingale by [DiCamillo, Kate]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51eje8EVLOL.jpg" width="140" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kate DiCamillo is a favorite author of teachers around the world. Her writing is beautiful and her stories are always entertaining. Children often check her books out from the library, but I've always felt that a student would get more from her books if there was teacher and classroom discussion. It's just that her books are so rich in meaning that students often miss key teachable moments on their own. When my son read <b>Because of Wynn Dixie</b>, he kind of skipped over the bottle tree not realizing about how important it is to the story. <b>Raymie Nightingale</b> is the same kind of story- underlying meanings and deep soul searching themes that kids might miss without a little guidance. I like this sentence from the Kirkus Review "<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">somehow such modest prose carries the weight of deep meditations on life, death, the soul, friendship, and the meaning of life without ever seeming heavy, and there's even a miracle to boot." &nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Raymie is a young girl whose father just left the family. She has convinced herself that if she wins the local beauty pageant, he will come home. Of course to win a pageant, she had to learn to twirl a baton. She attends a local twirling class and meets two unexpected friends. The frequently fainting Louisiana with the crazy grandmom and tough talking daughter of a cop, Beverly. The unlikely trio embarks on a mission to save beloved pet and they learn the value of friendship.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I enjoyed this book. It was funny and sad and there was never a dull moment. I really think my students will like it as well, but I do worry that it's just a tad too deep for them to really "get it." This one, in my opinion, is better read along with a parent or teacher.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="Fort by [DeFelice, Cynthia]" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51LP136NM7L.jpg" width="131" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This book is a perfect summary of what I wish for my son. I wish that he would have a summer of camp outs, building forts, sharing secrets, laughing hysterically, and finding adventure. <b>Fort</b> by Cynthia DeFelice is a description of that ideal boy summer. Wyatt and Augie pay a trip to the local junk yard and find enough sheet metal to build a spectacular fort in the woods; however, their dreams of perfect summer nights are soon dashed by the local town bullies. The boys quickly launch Operation Doom to teach the bad seeds a lesson.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Reading this book in the summer was perfect because I could easily picture everything that was happening in the story. I think my students will relate to this book and the boys, especially reluctant readers, will thoroughly enjoy it. One of my favorite parts is when the boys befriend a teenager with special needs. They show him kindness and he repays them in an unexpected and hilarious way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;I wish I was still young enough to run off into the woods with my best pals!&nbsp;4th grade and up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Tricia Pfeilhttps://plus.google.com/117643226034960809580noreply@blogger.com0